The Prevalence and Management of Pediculosis Capitis in Turkey: A Systematic Review

• Published in: Türkiye parazitolojii dergisi 2015-06, Vol.39 (2), p.135
• Main Authors: Özlem Özkan, Hamzaoglu, Onur, Yavuz, Melike
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; tur
• ISSN: 1300-6320; 2146-3077
• DOI: 10.5152/tpd.2015.3628

This study aimed to examine scientific articles performed in Turkey on the prevalence and management of PK (diagnosis, contagion, prevention, treatment) from a critical perspective. The population of the systematic review consisted of total 63 published and unpublished theses or dissertations and peer-reviewed articles published in Turkish or English in national or foreign scientific journals from studies performed in Turkey between 1982 and 2012 years. It reached 578,938 people in 63 studies. Seventy-eight percent of the studies were related to the prevalence of PK and/or associated factors. The number of the studies was limited regarding diagnosis, prevention, contagion, treatment compliance, difficulties and causes of failure. Of the studies, 90.5% had been performed in public schools, almost exclusively elementary schools. The prevalence of PK was 0.3-34.1%, 0-35.4%, and it was 0.3-34.1% in elementary school children. It increased with years of education. It was double that of the boys in the girls (p