Epidemiology

Infestations in the US are most common among children 3 to 12 years of age. All socioeconomic groups are affected. It has been suggested that race or ethnicity influences rates of infestation, but head lice are common worldwide.[5][6][7]

True prevalence and incidence data in the US do not exist as such data are not collected in any standardized way, and are often inferred by the sale of pediculicides, which in itself most likely represents an overestimate of true incidence. Prevalence has been estimated in some communities in other countries, but can vary widely among communities, and even among schools in the same community.[7] Some examples include Australia (prevalence in school children of 13%, with a range between schools of 0% to 28%), the UK (prevalence of 2%), and China (prevalence of 14%, with a range of 0% to 52%).[8][9][10] In developing countries, prevalence in children may be up to 60%; in such settings, head lice infestation may also be frequently present in adults.[11] Head lice do not infest animals.

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