title: Socioeconomical Factors Associated With Pediculosis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) in Athens, Greece.
abstract: Pediculosis in humans and especially in children is a very common dermatological disorder caused by the ectoparasite Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer. We investigated the socioeconomic factors affecting the prevalence of pediculosis in the Greek urban area of Athens during 2004-2006. The target population consisted of children from kindergartens. In total, 434 children from single- or two-parent families were investigated with respect to socioeconomic factors such as education, income and family composition, and the prevalence of pediculosis. The overall pediculosis rate was 5.30%. Head louse infestations were significantly higher in female children and in two-parent families. Lice infestations peaked in low- and medium-income families. Head louse infestation rates were influenced by income, parents' education, and nationality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Athens Medical School, Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens, Greece (annatagka@gmail.com), glamprou@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagka
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Choremeio Research Laboratory, University of Athens, Athens-Goudi 11527, Greece (glamprou@med.uoa.gr; mbraouda@med.uoa.gr), glamprou@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: George I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Lambrou
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Choremeio Research Laboratory, University of Athens, Athens-Goudi 11527, Greece (glamprou@med.uoa.gr; mbraouda@med.uoa.gr).
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braoudaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, National School of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Av., 11521 Athens, Greece (takis.panagiotopoulos@gmail.com; dlaggas@esdy.edu.gr).
authors.forename: Takis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulos
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Athens Medical School, "Eugenideion" Hospital, Athens, Greece (papanikolaou.el77@gmail.com).
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, National School of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Av., 11521 Athens, Greece (takis.panagiotopoulos@gmail.com; dlaggas@esdy.edu.gr).
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laggas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010374:Pediculus / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Greece; Pediculosis; socioeconomic factor