Quality of Life among Children with Head Lice; Before and After Treatment
Keywords:
Pediculosis capitis, Quality of life, Children Dermatology Life Quality IndexAbstract
Background: Pediculosis capitis is a common contagious disease in children. Patients have itchy scalps and in turn experience embarrassment. Treatment involves multiple steps and typically takes time. Despite its significance, the data on pediatric patients’ quality of life (QoL) affected by head lice is minimal. Objective: To study QoL among children with head lice and compare the children’s QoL before and after treatment. Method: Grade 1 to grade 9 students at a school in Chonburi have been examined for head lice and treated with 1% permethrin lotion. Fifty children answered the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) questionnaire before and after treatment. The questionnaire consisted of 10 items with a total score of 30. The higher score implicates poorer QoL. CDLQI scores were compared between before and two weeks after treatment. Results: The CDLQI scores of 50 students with head lice range from 0-23. Eight percent of students have extremely large effect on QoL. Average CDLQI score of all head lice students had small impact on QoL. The mean CDLQI score before and after treatment is 5.00 and 3.16. After treatment, the CDLQI score improved by 1.84 points (95% CI: 0.19, 3.49, p =0.029). The “itchy, scratchy, sore or painful” was the item most affected by students with head lice. The QoL items that improved after treatment are “embarrassed or self conscious, upset or sad” and “skin problem affects school work”. Subjects with statistically significant improvement of QoL are the non-active infestation group and the adolescents (12-15 years of age). Conclusions: Head lice slightly worsened the QoL. Lice treatment improves an overall QoL, school work, and diminishes the patient’s embarrassment especially in the non-active infestation group and adolescents (active and non-active infestation group)
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