title: HEAD LICE IN HAIR SAMPLES FROM YOUTHS, ADULTS AND THE ELDERLY IN MANAUS, AMAZONAS STATE, BRAZIL.
abstract: A study of head lice infestations among young people, adults and elderly individuals was conducted from August 2010 to July 2013 in Manaus, AM, Northern Brazil. Hair samples collected from 1,860 individuals in 18 barber shops and beauty parlors were examined for the ectoparasite. The occurrence of pediculosis and its association with factors, such as sex, age, ethnicity, hair characteristics and the socioeconomic profile of salon customers, salon location and seasonal variation were determined. The overall occurrence rate was 2.84%. Occurrence was higher in hair samples from non-blacks and the elderly. Higher occurrence was also observed during kindergarten, elementary and junior education school holidays. The results indicate that the occurrence of head lice among young people, adults and the elderly in Manaus is relatively low compared to that determined in children and in other regions of the country. After children, the elderly were the most affected. The study also indicated the need to adopt additional procedures to improve surveys among the population with low or no purchasing power, which is usually the most affected by this ectoparasitic disease.
authors.affiliation: PPGIBA, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suellen Cristina Barbosa
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: ICBIM, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Borges
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.affiliation: ICBIM, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Júlio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sílvia Cássia Brandão
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Justiniano
authors.affiliation: ICB, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Tonissi
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Moroni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001461:Barbering; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010374:Pediculus; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult