medigraphic.com
Órgano oficial de la Sociedad Mexicana de Cirugía Dermatológica y Oncológica, AC

2026, Number 1

<< Back Next >>

Dermatología Cosmética, Médica y Quirúrgica 2026; 24 (1)

Pediculosis: epidemiological and clinical characteristics, a 10-year retrospective study

López YBA, Carreño SSA, Vázquez RLA, De Dios AÁI, Sánchez DLE

Language: Spanish
References: 14
Page: 15-22
PDF size: 352.69 Kb.


ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Human pediculosis results from skin infestation by hematophagous lice of the order Phthiraptera. Epidemiological data vary across geographic regions, with higher prevalence in areas such as Latin America.
OBJECTIVE: to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with pediculosis capitis, pubis, and corporis treated at the Instituto Dermatológico de Jalisco, “Dr. José Barba Rubio”.
METHODOLOGY: An observational, retrospective and descriptive study conducted from 2016 to 2025. Clinical records of patients diagnosed with pediculosis capitis, pubis and corporis were included. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 975 (99.1 %) patients with pediculosis capitis, eight (0.8 %) with pediculosis pubis and one (0.1 %) patient with pediculosis corporis were studied. Pediculosis capitis predominated in females with 954 (97.7 %) cases, whereas 100 % of pediculosis corporis and pubis cases occurred in male patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Pediculosis capitis was more frequent in school-aged females, whereas pediculosis pubis and corporis predominantly affected adult males. The main symptom was pruritus. Alopecia areata was the most frequent comorbidity. The most common treatment was oral ivermectin as monotherapy.


REFERENCES

  1. Fu YT, Yao C, Deng YP, et al. Human pediculosis, a global publichealth problem. Infect Dis Poverty. 2022;11(1):58. Disponibleen: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-022-00986-w

  2. Ortiz-Flores MF, Rodríguez-Estavillo X, Arellano-Mendoza MI,Ponce-Olivera-RM. Pediculosis y escabiosis: revisión de laliteratura. Med Cután Iber Lat Am. 2022;50(2):69-81.

  3. Souza AB, Morais PC, Dorea JPSP, Fonseca ABM, et al.Pediculosis knowledge among schoolchildren parentsand its relation with head lice prevalence. An Acad BrasCienc. 2022;94(2):e20210337. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202220210337

  4. Hatam-Nahavandi K, Ahmadpour E, Pashazadeh F, et al.Pediculosis capitis among school-age students worldwideas an emerging public health concern: a systematic reviewand meta-analysis of past five decades. Parasitol Res.2020;119(10):3125-3143. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06847-5

  5. Valle-Barbosa MA, Muñoz de la Torre A, Flores-VillavicencioME, Robles Bañuelos JR. La pediculosis capitis en alumnosde escuelas públicas mexicanas. Rev Cubana Med Trop.2018;70(2):1-8.

  6. Valle-Barbosa MA, Muñoz de la Torre A, Robles-Bañuelos R,Vega-López MG, Flores-Villavicencio ME. La pediculosis capitisen escolares y el índice de marginalidad de la zona metropolitanade Guadalajara, México. Univ Med. 2020;61(3):4-11. Disponibleen: https://doi.org/10.11144/javeriana.umed61-3.pedi

  7. Apet R, Prakash L, Shewale KH, Jawade S, Dhamecha R.Treatment Modalities of Pediculosis Capitis: A NarrativeReview. Cureus. 2023;15(9):e45028. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.45028

  8. Mimouni D, Ankol OE, Gdalevich M, Grotto I, Davidovitch N,Zangvil E. Seasonality trends of Pediculosis capitis and Phthiruspubis in a young adult population: follow-up of 20 years. J EurAcad Dermatol Venereol. 2002;16(3):257-259. Disponible en:https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-3083.2002.00457.x

  9. Patel PU, Tan A, Levell NJ. A clinical review and history of pubiclice. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2021;46(7):1181-1188. Disponible en:https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.14666

  10. Khais Muri Laabusi A, Mohsan Rhadi M. Prevalence ofPediculus humunus capitis, Pediculus humanus corporis, andPthirus pubis in Al-Kut, Iraq. Arch Razi Inst. 2022;77(1):497-501.Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.22092/ARI.2022.357091.1969

  11. Jahnke C, Bauer E, Hengge UR, Feldmeier H. Accuracy ofdiagnosis of pediculosis capitis: visual inspection vs wetcombing. Arch Dermatol. 2009;145(3):309-313. Disponible en:https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2008.587

  12. Bakos RM, Reinehr C, Escobar GF, Leite LL. Dermoscopy ofskin infestations and infections (entomodermoscopy) - Part I:dermatozoonoses and bacterial infections. An Bras Dermatol.2021;96(6):735-745. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abd.2021.04.007

  13. Chen J, Mei A, Jacques A, Ricciardo B, Bowen A. Therapeuticpotential of plant-based therapies in pediculosis capitis:Systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Glob Public Health.2025;5(7):e0004841. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004841

  14. Salavastru CM, Chosidow O, Janier M, Tiplica GS. Europeanguideline for the management of pediculosis pubis. J EurAcad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(9):1425-1428. Disponible en:https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.14420




2020     |     www.medigraphic.com