Pediculus capitis (Anoplura: Pedicullidae) infestation in preschool and primary school students and the community: a global-scale evidence review

• Published in: International journal of tropical insect science 2024-04, Vol.44 (2), p.441-536
• Main Authors: Nasirian, Hassan, Ahmadi, Seyyed Amir Yasin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climatic conditions; Continents; Elementary school students; Entomology; Epidemiology; Gender; Infestation; Life Sciences; Northern Hemisphere; Original Research Article; Parameters; Pediculus; Risk factors; Seasons; Southern Hemisphere; Students; Trends; Tropical environment; Tropical environments
• ISSN: 1742-7592; 1742-7584; 1742-7592
• DOI: 10.1007/s42690-023-01129-w

Pediculus capitis infests the human scalp, affecting people in all nations and having worldwide distribution. There are no studies on global P. capitis infestation and trends related to parameters of gender, years, seasons, months, hemispheres, continents, and countries among preschool and primary school students and the community. Therefore, based on the selected parameters, this global-scale evidence review looked at the levels of P. capitis infestation in the target population. Among the papers reviewed, 436 were selected because they contained information that suited the study objectives. The levels of P. capitis infestation in the target population related to gender, years, seasons, the world hemispheres and tropical regions, continents, and countries were the parameters used for comparison. Irrespective of the variations in the above conditions, the global P. capitis infestation levels among selected parameters were around 25% or rarely above in the target population. Due to environmental, epidemiological, or cultural conditions, P. capitis infestation levels in the target population in the southern hemisphere and tropical regions had a significantly higher infestation rate than in the northern hemisphere. The global trends of seasonal and monthly P. capitis infestation in the target population have been relatively constant over the past decades, with a slight increase or decrease. In terms of temporal, spatial and climatic conditions, the observations indicated that the countries often located in the tropical regions of North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia are at greater risk of infestation. Significantly, the increased risk of infestation is adjusted by gender (girl as a risk factor) and season (summer as a risk factor and autumn and winter as the protecting factors).