World Applied Sciences Journal 15 (6): 772-774, 2011
ISSN 1818-4952
© IDOSI Publications, 2011
Corresponding Author: Masoud Keighobadi, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sari, Iran.
Tel: +989123858799.
772
Pedicolosis in Health Center of Shemiranat, Tehran, Iran
Mohsen Asori, Mohammad Reza Youssefi and Masoud Keighobadi
1 2 3
Head of Pasteur Institute of Iran-Amol Research Center
1
Department of Veterinary Parasitology. Islamic Azad University, Babol-Branch
2
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sari, Iran
3
Abstract: Pedicolosis is one of the extrinsic epidemic and parasitic diseases in humans; where seen as head,
body and pubes louse in affected patients. This accounts for as important complication especially in the
societies with reduced health principles. The most important way for transferring this disease is by contacting
with clothes, personal effects, bed or furniture cover contaminated to the lice. This is a retrospective study by
that all peoples affected by head lice (nit, nymph and adult) were examined by health professionals. Hairs of
suspected ones especially hairs of head, nape of the neck and around ears were examined for nit and lice. The
incidence of pedicolosis is more in females than males significantly. The most frequently contaminated age was
5-14 and by involving occupation, is mostly was among students. The most contaminating rate in the studied
years was 2006 with the frequency of 78 cases than 4 years ago and minimum frequent rate was in 2002 with 21
cases. During 2002 to 2006 the most incidence rate of this contamination seen in the fall and in other years it
was seen in winter. Nowadays, in most regions country, it is one of the most complicated health cases in the
society particularly among students of primary schools. With regard to mentioned findings in this study and
the role of each variable influenced on the incidence of this disease, employing health instructor or health nurse
as well as training the health to the students and their family can has an important role in reducing the rate of
contamination.
Key words: Pedicolosis Louse Nit Health
INTRODUCTION The most important way for directly transferring
The initial steep for attaining to an ideal healthy individuals and their personal effects like their clothes,
society is completely observing the personal and public bed, or furniture covers contaminated by nits or lice.
health by all members of the society. Pedicolosis is one The most effective way to campaign with this disease
of the extrinsic epidemics and parasitic diseases in is using shampoos containing insecticide for affected
humans, where seen as head, body and pubes louse in ones and public training for being acknowledge with
affected patients. This accounts for as important this disease and promoting their health level through
complication especially in the societies with reduced the society [4].
health principles [1]. Due to the health importance of this disease in
This can be accounted as a suitable index for recent years and various aspects of being
evaluating the health, cultural and economic status of pathogenic, it is necessary to study such insect in
civil and rural societies in most countries. In developed different societies especially in where there is
societies such as United States, even, 6-12 million reduced health. During 2002 to 2006, this study
people are affected by this parasite each year [2]. done on patients referred to the Shemiranat health
In affected people, direct effects of louse biting will center, Tehran aiming to: first, to study its incidence
inject proteins of its saliva to the body and results in rate and second, to compare its incidence
host irritation and finally sensitivity. Frequent biting of between this region and other regions through thee
this insect may cause allergy such as strict itching [3]. country.
this disease is by direct contact with affected