Head Lice Infestation historical perspective
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Template:Rquote The number of cases of human louse infestations (or pediculosis) has increased worldwide since the mid-1960s, reaching hundreds of millions annually.[1]
Despite improvements in medical treatment and prevention of human diseases during the 20th century, head louse infestation remains stubbornly prevalent. In 1997, 80% of American elementary schools reported at least one outbreak of lice.[2] Lice infestation during that same period was more prevalent than chicken pox.[2]
About 6–12 million children between the ages of 3 and 11 are treated annually for head lice in the United States alone.[3] High levels of louse infestations have also been reported from all over the world including Israel, Denmark, Sweden, U.K., France and Australia.[4][5]
The number of children per family, the sharing of beds and closets, hair washing habits, local customs and social contacts, healthcare in a particular area (e.g. school) and socioeconomic status were found to be significant factors in head louse infestation[citation needed]. Girls are 2–4 times more frequently infested than boys[citation needed]. Children between 4 and 13 years of age are the most frequently infested group.[6] In the U.S., African-American children have lower rates of infestation.[3]
The United Kingdom's National Health Service[citation needed] and many American health agencies [1][2][3] report that lice "prefer" clean hair because it's easier to attach eggs and to cling to the strands; however, this is often contested.
Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) infestation is most frequent on children aged 3–10 and their families.[7] Females get head lice twice as often as males,[7] and infestation in persons of Afro-Caribbean or other black descent is rare because of hair consistency.[7] But these children may have nits that hatch and the live lice could be transferred by head contact to other children.[8]
References
- ↑ Norman G. Gratz (1998). "Human lice: Their prevalence, control and resistance to insecticides. A review 1985–1997" (PDF). Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "A modern scourge: Parents scratch their heads over lice". Consumer Reports. February 1998. pp. 62–63. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
- ↑ Mumcuoglu, Kosta Y.; Barker CS; Burgess IF; Combescot-Lang C; Dagleish RC; Larsen KS; Miller J; Roberts RJ; Taylan-Ozkan A. (2007). "International Guidelines for Effective Control of Head Louse Infestations". Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 6 (4): 409–14. PMID 17668538.
- ↑ Ian Burgess (2004). "Human Lice and their Control". Annual Review of Entomology. Annual Reviews. 49: 457–481. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.49.061802.123253. PMID 14651472.
- ↑ Mumcuoglu KY, Miller J, Gofin R; et al. (September 1990). "Epidemiological studies on head lice infestation in Israel. I. Parasitological examination of children". International Journal of Dermatology. 29 (7): 502–6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4362.1990.tb04845.x. PMID 2228380.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Nutanson I.; et al. (2008). "Pediculus humanus capitis: an update" (PDF). Acta Dermatoven. 17 (4): 147–59.
- ↑ James GH Dinulos (September 2008). "Lice (Pediculosis)". The Merck Manual. Merck & Co., Inc. Retrieved 2008-12-27.