PREVALENCE AND SEASONAL-VARIATION OF PEDI CULOSIS-CAPITIS IN THE POPULATION UNDER 16 YEAR OF AGE OF THE HEALTH REGION OF BUENOS-AIRES, ARGENTINA

The prevalence of the parasitic disease Pediculosis capitis was studie d over a period of one year from 1-8-1992 to 31-7-1993, in Sanitary Re gion XI of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina which is composed of 1 5 districts located on the ENE, and in other areas under the influence of the Hospital Interzonal de Agudos, Especialidad Pediatria ''Sup. S or Maria Ludovica'' de Plata, center of this Sanitary Region. A total number of 552 individuals of from medium to medium low social level of the child population of from 0 to 16 years of age were sampled at ran dom over 52 consecutive weeks. All individuals who actually had the pa rasite at the time of examination were considered as positive for this disease. The results are expressed in terms of prevalence and its mon thly and seasonal variations analyzed. Prevalence showed high values d uring all months, the lowest being in February (12%) and the highest i n August (56.8%), the annual mean being of 38.04% (+/- 4.05%). Seasona lly, its lowest value occurred in the summer (16.8%), the values for t he remaining seasons being very similar to one another, but always hig her than 38%.