Pediculosis humanus capitis: An Emerging Ectoparasitic Infection among Children in Maiduguri Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs), Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Pediculosis humanus capitus (Head lice infestation) among children in internally displaced camps in Maiduguri, Borno State. A cross sectional study was conducted in January 2019 to April 2020 among 2-6 years old children in the internally displaced camps. The children were critically examined for the present of live head lice (Pediculos humanus capitis), eggs or nits in the hair. Out of 198 subjects examined 100 (50.5%) were male, 98(49.5%) were female from four different internally displaced camps involved in the study. Among the children examined 54(27.3%) were found to be infested with Pediculosis humanus capitis while 144 (72.7%) were not infested. Male have slightly greater infestation with 50.5% in comparism to the female with 49.5% infestation. Whereas head lice infestation based age among study population revealed that, highest infestation rate was recorded among children with 7 years old with 16(45.7%) followed by 6 years old children 11(32.4%), 5 years old children with 9(24.5%), 4 years old with 8(20.5%), 3 years old children with 6(20.0) and 2 years old children with 4(18.2%). Likewise the population distribution of children enrolled in the four different internally displaced camps revealed as Bakasi IDPs camp 68(34.3%), Muna Da’alti IDPs camp 48(24.2%), Dalori IDPs camp 42(21.2%) and Ajiganaram IDPs camp 40(20.0%) respectively. The findings of this research work revealed that Pediculosis humanus capitis is a common public health concern among children in internally displaced camps in the study. Thus, immediate public and primary health care attention is needed to strategically plan for prevention and control measures to curtail the disease.