Discussion:
Head lice infestation is a worldwide public health problem that affects some people mostly school age children. Children in the age group 6–12 years are at the highest risk for pediculosis capitis [20 and 21]. Similar to other studies in different parts of the world, Africa and the Middle East, infestation with head lice was observed to be a common condition among primary school children [22].
The prevalence rate of head lice infestation in this study was almost two thirds among all students. Likewise, in the study carried in Karmouze district, Alexandria, showed 58.9% prevalence rate of pediculosis[23]. This result is higher than the results of Meet Mazzah primary school children for girls study, that the prevalence rate of pediculosis capitis was 44.2% [24].
Also, the findings of the current study showed that students aged 6-9 years had the most infestation, which could be because they were young and needed help for hair washing in addition to their head to head contact with siblings and adults. This findings is also congruent with a study from Jordan, that reported a higher infestation rate in younger children (