Prevalence of pediculosis capitis among primary school students at Sharkia Governorate by using dermoscopy

Background Pediculosis capitis is the infestation of human hair and scalp by head lice. Dermoscopy was used to improve the health of students in Sharkia Governorate by decreasing the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among them.Aim The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among primary school students in Sharkia Governorate, find the risk factors associated with this infestation, and to compare the traditional methods in diagnosis of pediculosis capitis with dermoscopy.Participants and methods This study was conducted on 242 students in Sharkia Governorate. Clinical and dermoscopic examinations were carried out for all children.Results Dermoscopic examination of the studied children was as follows: 44.6% of them were free of infestation or dandruff, 17.8% were also free of infestation but showed dandruff, which may be misdiagnosed as nits, and 4.1% showed empty nits only. Thus, the total negative was 162 (66.9%). Only 0.4% of them showed empty nits with dandruff. About 7.4% of them were with empty and filled nits, 21.9% were with filled nits only, and 0.4% of them showed mobile lice. Hence, the prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 33.0% by using dermoscopic examination.Conclusion Prevalence of pediculosis capitis among primary school students in Sharkia Governorate was 33.0% by using dermoscopic examination. Pediculosis capitis was found to be affected by some sociodemographic characteristics as sex, residence, social class, father’s and mother’s education, and some behaviors as combing of hair and sharing tools; moreover, hair length was shown to increase infestation. Overall, dermoscopy was found to be better in diagnosis pediculosis capitis compared with visual examination.