Prevalence and Molecular Identification of Head Lice Among Primary School Students And Refugee Camps in Zakho District, Iraq

Head lice, scientifically referred to as Pediculus humanus capitis, lead to a condition known as pediculosis capitis, or head lice infestation. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Pediculus humanus capitis infestation among children in 22 primary schools and two refugee camps situated in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. A total of 1,131 children underwent manual and individual examinations. Individuals were classified as positive for infestation when nits, immature lice, or adult lice were detected on their scalps. The overall prevalence of head lice was found to be 21.7%, with infestation rates of 25.5% in schools and 16.7% in camps. The majority of infested individuals were aged between 6 and 9 years, exhibiting higher infestation rates compared to those aged 10 to 12 years. Furthermore, infestation was significantly more common among females than males (p < 0.001). A notable correlation was identified between larger family sizes (7–14 members) and increased infestation rates in both environments (p < 0.05). In schools, a lower frequency of bathing was significantly linked to infestation (p = 0.001), although this correlation was not significant in camps (p > 0.05). Additionally, children whose mothers had lower levels of education were found to be more frequently infested. Statistically significant differences were also noted in both schools and camps. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of P. humanus capitis infestation among primary school children and in refugee camps, as well as to examine the association of prevalence with key factors.