Self-diagnosis of active head lice infestation by individuals from an impoverished community: high sensitivity and specificity
Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Säo Paulo
;
50(2): 121-122, Mar.-Apr. 2008. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-482226
ABSTRACT
To compare sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of self-diagnosis for head lice infestation with visual inspection, we conducted a study in an urban slum in Brazil. Individuals were asked about active head lice infestation (self-diagnosis); we performed visual inspection and thereafter wet combing (gold standard). Of the 175 individuals included, 77 (44 percent) had an active head lice infestation. For self-diagnosis, sensitivity (80.5 percent), specificity (91.8 percent), PPV (88.6 percent) and NPV (85.7 percent) were high. Sensitivity of visual inspection was 35.1 percent. Public health professionals can use self-diagnosis as a diagnostic tool, to estimate accurately prevalence of pediculosis in a community, and to monitor ongoing intervention strategies.
RESUMO
Foi conduzido um estudo em uma favela urbana no Brasil com o objetivo de comparar a sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) e valor preditivo negativo (VPN) do auto-diagnóstico de pediculose com a inspeção visual. Dos 175 indivíduos incluídos, 77 (44 por cento) apresentavam pediculose. Para o auto-diagnóstico, a sensibilidade (80.5 por cento), a especificidade (91.8 por cento), o VPP (88.6 por cento) e o VPN (85.7 por cento) foram altos. A sensibilidade da inspeção visual foi 35.1 por cento. Profissionais de saúde podem utilizar o auto-diagnóstico como uma ferramenta diagnóstica para estimar de forma acurada a prevalência de pediculose em uma comunidade, como também para monitorar estratégias de controle da doença.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Lice Infestations
/
Scalp Dermatoses
/
Poverty Areas
/
Self-Examination
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Säo Paulo
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
/
Germany
Institution/Affiliation country:
Federal University of Ceará/BR
/
University of Medicine/DE
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