A Nationwide Survey of Prevalence of Pediculosis in Children and Adolescents in Iran
نویسندگان
1 Direcor General, Family, Health, Population and School Health Bureau, Ministry of Health and Medical Education
2 Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control,
3 Senior Expert of Youth and School Health Office
4 Department of Health and Physical Activity and Prevention of Social Hazards, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran
5 Department of Gastroentrology and Hepatology, Liver and Gastrointestinal Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences,
6 Senior Expert of Youth and School Health Office
7 Head of Adolescents, Youth and School Health Office
8 Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
9 Environmental Protection Engineer, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Research and Science Branch, Tehran
10 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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چکیده
Background: Since 2005, pediculosis is one of the obligatory reportable diseases from community to the Centerof Disease Control. This study is the first nationwide survey on the prevalence of pediculosis and someassociated risk factors in Iranian children and adolescents.Methods: National data of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education were gathered in 2005 through schoolscreening programs and obligatory reports from the country health centers.Results: 12,359,448 Iranian children and adolescents were screened in 2005. Overall, 213,450 students,consisting of 198,947 girls and 14,320 boys were reported to have pediculosis. The prevalence of pediculosiswas 581 per 100,000 population that varied from 1/100 000 to 8,303/100,000. In general, the highest prevalenceof pediculosis was documented in south-eastern cities. The prevalence of pediculosis was significantly higher ingirls than in boys (93% vs.7%, respectively, p<0.0001). In both genders, the highest prevalence of pediculosiswas documented in the 6-10- year age group. Of those infected, 62% lived in rural areas, and 32% of thoseinfected with pediculosis had a previous history of this infection. Most (99.37%) infected individuals had headlice, the rest had body and pubic pediculosis.Conclusion: The prevalence of pediculosis is low in Iranian children and adolescents, but this infestation is still ahealth problem in some south-eastern cities with warm climate and low to middle socioeconomic status.
