Reliability of parental reports of headlice in their children

Abstract

For parents to treat head lice (pediculosis) effectively in their children, it is necessary for them first to recognise it is present. We conducted a school-based screening program involving 1838 children from 16 randomly selected primary schools in Victoria between May and October 2001 (participalion rate, 55,2%). As part of this program, we compared a written report from parents on their child's pediculosis status against results of our examination (7-10 days later).