The effect of the ectoparasite (Pediculus humanus capitis) on immunological and blood parameters in children of different ages in Baquba city

Abstract

Background: Ectoparasites are predominant parasitic infections among children. Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are transmitted parasites, mainly among school-aged children. Although, head lice are not a chief health hazardor or a vector for disease, they are a public social problem. The transmitted infections by a parasitic bite, may reach the blood which causes health problems for children and affects their health.

Objective: To investigate the effects of infection with head lice on Immunoglobulin E (IgE), vitamin D3, Zinc, and blood parameters.

Patients and Methods: Samples including skin swapping and blood samples were collected from 300 children who were examined at AL-Batool Maternity Teaching Hospital (AL-BMTH) and some medical centers. Skin scraping and swapping were examined microscopically for detection of the parasite. Blood samples were analyzed for immunological and blood parameter estimation, during the period from 1^st October 2021 to the end of May 2022. Samples were sent to the parasitology and hematology laboratories in AL-BMTH to identify the parasitic infections and their effects.

Results: The samples include 180 females and 120 males, 90 samples  of the 300 were epidemic with lice infection, 48.9% of them were at age 1-5 years, 35.6% were at age 6-10 and 15.6 % were at age 11-15,  91% of the infected children were females, while only 9 % of the infected children were males. The blood analysis indicated that the levels of vitamin D and the mineral Zinc, were lower in children infected with head lice compared to the control, while IgE was higher. RBC and Hb showed a lower level in infected children than in control, whereas WBC was at a high ratio in most patients.

Conclusion: Parasites cause many diseases in children in particular. They spread in rural and crowded places and affect the activity and vitality of children.