[Pediculosis prevalence and associated risk factors in a nursery school, Bogotá, Colombia]. / Prevalencia y factores asociados a la pediculosis niños de un jardín infantil de Bogotá

INTRODUCTION: Pediculosis is one of the most important chronic infestations in schoolchildren worldwide. Infestations show a high prevalence among the poorest children in developing countries, and it is associated with substandard hygienic practices. OBJECTIVE: The prevalence was estimated and seasonality described of a Pediculus infestation of seven months duration in a nursery school. Associations were explored among the standards of hygienic practices and hair characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy-eight nursery school children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years, from the nursery school located at National University of Colombia, Bogotá, were participants in the study. The children were examined for presence of Pediculus humanus infestation each month for seven months. The lengths and thicknesses of hair were measured at the first examination. A survey requesting information on socioeconomic and hygienic practices was provided to the caretakers of the children. Prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals were estimated for each explored association, and also to describe the differences of prevalences between age groups in each period. RESULTS: The highest prevalence was found in the children between the ages of 4 and 5 years, at the beginning of the school year. A positive association was indicated between Pediculus infestation and hair longer than 11.5 cm [prevalence rate (PR)=2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-4.8], washing the hair less than three times a week (PR=1.58; 95%CI: 0.58-4.7), as well as sharing cleaning implements (PR=1.31; 95%CI: 38-4.46) and living with more than five people at home (PR=2.04; 95%CI: 0.8-5.06). Due to the limited size of the sample, none of the associations found were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pediculus infestation has a high prevalence in children of the nursery school studied. This infestation is associated with substandard hygienic practices, living with more than five people at home and the length of hair.

Prevalencia y factores asociados a la pediculosis en niños del Jardín Infantil de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia / Pediculosis prevalence and associated risk factors in children of the nursery school, Bogotá, Colombia

Introducción. La pediculosis es una de las infestaciones crónicas más importante en escolares en el mundo.Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia y describir la estacionalidad de la pediculosis durante siete meses en un jardín infantil y explorar su asociación con las variables socioeconómicas, las prácticas de higiene y las características del cabello. Materiales y métodos. Ciento setenta y ocho niños entre 3 y 60 meses de edaddel jardín infantil de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia participaron en el estudio. En cada niño se exploró la presencia de Pediculus humanus mensualmente por siete meses y se midió el grosor y la longitud del cabello al comienzo del seguimiento. Se realizó una encuesta a los cuidadores de los sujetos de estudio sobre prácticas higiénicas y condiciones socioeconómicas.Resultados. Se encontraron mayores prevalencias en el grupo de edad entre 48 a 59 meses, al principio del año escolar. Estos resultados sugieren una asociaciónpositiva entre la pediculosis y tener una longitud del cabello mayor de 11,5 centímetros [Razón de prevalencia (RP): 2,0; intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95 por ciento:0,82-4,8 ], el bañarse la cabeza menos de tres veces a la semana (RP: 1,58; IC 95 por ciento: 0,58-4,7), el compartir implementos de aseo (RP:1,31; IC 95 por ciento: 0,38-4,46) y el vivir más de cinco personas en la casa (RP; 2,04: IC 95 por ciento: 0,8-5,06). Conclusión. La infestación por P. humanus capitis tiene altas prevalencias en los escolares del jardín. Esta infestación se encuentra asociada a las malas prácticas higiénicas, al hacinamiento y la longitud del cabello.