Evaluate the oxidative stress and some physiological parameters in children with head lice Pediculus humanus capitis in displaced person camps/ Samarra city

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the prevalence of head lice infestation in displacedpersons camps in Samarra city، in addition to evaluate its effect on some of physiologicalparameters and oxidative stress state، during period from October 2016 to April 2017.The epidemiological study showed that the overall rate of the spread of head lice infestationwas 14.69%، most cases of head lice infestation were among girls،153 out of 674 with rateof infestation of 22.70%، while the number of infestation among boys 5 out of 401 with rateof infestation of 1.24%.The highest rate was among age groups of 11-14 years which was30.05%، then the age groups of 7-10 years which was 18.08%، and 9.70% in the age groupsof 2-6 years. The effect of head lice infestation to the physiological parameters was study،the results showed that the mean of neutrophils significant increase (P<0.05) in children withhead lice as compared with control group، with no significant change in total white bloodcells counts، lymphocytes، monocytes، red blood corpuscle count، packed cells volume، concentrationof hemoglobin and platelets count. Otherwise، the oxidative stress state was evaluatein sera of group with head lice infestation the results indicate that the levels of malondialdehyde،peroxynitrate and albumin were significantly increased (P<0.05) in sera of childrenwith head lice infestation as compared with control group، with no significant change in thelevel of glutathione، total protein and globulin between the two groups. While the level ofliver enzymes (AST and ALT) were significantly increased (P<0.05) in sera of children withhead lice infestation as compared with control group. From all the results we can concludethat head lice infestation may be effected to the number of neutrophils، oxidative stress stateand to the function of the liver.