Epidemiological study of pediculosis capitis and scabies in schoolchildren from Antofagasta, Chile, 1995
Sagua, H.; Rivera, A.M.; Zamora, M.; Neira, I.; Araya, J.; Maluenda, R.
Boletin Chileno de Parasitologia 52(1-2): 33-36
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0365-9402 PMID: 9497538 Document Number: 470073
During March-December 1995, 1122 primary schoolchildren under 14 years of age in the city-port of Antofagasta, northern Chile, were examined for head lice and scabies mites. A total of 285 (25.4%) was found to be infested with Pediculus humanus capitis [P. capitis] and only 20 (1.8%) with Sarcoptes scabiei. In general, the rates of infestation were higher in groups of younger schoolchildren, and also higher in girls than in boys, and in those groups with high indexes of crowding and ignorance of the transmission of these ectoparasitoses.