The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General Survey
<i>Pediculus humanus capitis</i> infestation is one of the most underestimated parasitoses still constituting a current epidemiological and social problem. Haematophagous insects, the etiological factor of pediculosis capitis, spread most easily in preschool children, which is determined...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Marzena Kotus Aleksandra Sędzikowska Joanna Kulisz Zbigniew Zając Agnieszka Borzęcka-Sapko Aneta Woźniak Andrzej Tytuła Katarzyna Bartosik |
| author_facet | Marzena Kotus Aleksandra Sędzikowska Joanna Kulisz Zbigniew Zając Agnieszka Borzęcka-Sapko Aneta Woźniak Andrzej Tytuła Katarzyna Bartosik |
| author_sort | Marzena Kotus |
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| description | <i>Pediculus humanus capitis</i> infestation is one of the most underestimated parasitoses still constituting a current epidemiological and social problem. Haematophagous insects, the etiological factor of pediculosis capitis, spread most easily in preschool children, which is determined by social and behavioural aspects. The study aimed to search for factors contributing to pediculosis capitis persistence in kindergartens located in south-eastern Poland. For this purpose, anonymous surveys among the management staff of preschool institutions were conducted. Head lice infestations were reported in 87.0% of the 561 surveyed facilities. A positive correlation was confirmed between the prevalence of head lice and a higher number of children in these facilities. Additionally, in 69.3% of the facilities where cases of pediculosis capitis were reported, it was noted that the infestation was associated with the child’s attendance at preschool. Familial and occupational transmission was observed in 78.5% and 25.2% of the facilities, respectively. In contrast, in 93.2% of preschools where no cases of infestation were reported, all parents consented to periodic head inspections. Parents’ attitudes and their perception of head lice as a health issue, rather than an embarrassing problem, appear to be key factors in effectively limiting the spread of head lice in the studied kindergartens. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0d5e8d433e994da09f52a393f4bda083 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-0d5e8d433e994da09f52a393f4bda0832025-08-20T03:43:31ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-03-0116330810.3390/insects16030308The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General SurveyMarzena Kotus0Aleksandra Sędzikowska1Joanna Kulisz2Zbigniew Zając3Agnieszka Borzęcka-Sapko4Aneta Woźniak5Andrzej Tytuła6Katarzyna Bartosik7Department of Anaesthesiological and Intensive Care Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodźki 7 St., 20-093 Lublin, PolandChair and Department of General Biology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Chalubinskiego 5 St., 02-004 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, PolandNZOZ Med.-Laser, Młyńska 14 St., 20-406 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, PolandFaculty of Human Sciences, WSEI University, 20-209 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland<i>Pediculus humanus capitis</i> infestation is one of the most underestimated parasitoses still constituting a current epidemiological and social problem. Haematophagous insects, the etiological factor of pediculosis capitis, spread most easily in preschool children, which is determined by social and behavioural aspects. The study aimed to search for factors contributing to pediculosis capitis persistence in kindergartens located in south-eastern Poland. For this purpose, anonymous surveys among the management staff of preschool institutions were conducted. Head lice infestations were reported in 87.0% of the 561 surveyed facilities. A positive correlation was confirmed between the prevalence of head lice and a higher number of children in these facilities. Additionally, in 69.3% of the facilities where cases of pediculosis capitis were reported, it was noted that the infestation was associated with the child’s attendance at preschool. Familial and occupational transmission was observed in 78.5% and 25.2% of the facilities, respectively. In contrast, in 93.2% of preschools where no cases of infestation were reported, all parents consented to periodic head inspections. Parents’ attitudes and their perception of head lice as a health issue, rather than an embarrassing problem, appear to be key factors in effectively limiting the spread of head lice in the studied kindergartens.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/308<i>Pediculus humanus capitis</i>head louse infestationpediculosis capitisarthropod bitesoccupational infestationfamilial pediculosis |
| spellingShingle | Marzena Kotus Aleksandra Sędzikowska Joanna Kulisz Zbigniew Zając Agnieszka Borzęcka-Sapko Aneta Woźniak Andrzej Tytuła Katarzyna Bartosik The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General Survey Insects <i>Pediculus humanus capitis</i> head louse infestation pediculosis capitis arthropod bites occupational infestation familial pediculosis |
| title | The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General Survey |
| title_full | The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General Survey |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General Survey |
| title_short | The Role of Parental and Institutional Approaches in the Persistence of Pediculosis Capitis in Early Childhood Education Settings: A General Survey |
| title_sort | role of parental and institutional approaches in the persistence of pediculosis capitis in early childhood education settings a general survey |
| topic | <i>Pediculus humanus capitis</i> head louse infestation pediculosis capitis arthropod bites occupational infestation familial pediculosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/308 |
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