HEALTHY LYF: Lice infestation is rampant among Filipino students

Did you know that as many as 9 million Filipino school children were found to have head lice in year 2000? At the time, that represented 84 percent of the population of public school children in Metro Manila and some provinces. This was found by a study conducted by the Department of Education and the University of the Philippines. It’s such a big problem that head lice are considered the second biggest health concern among students, 7 to 12 years of age, after tooth decay.

In year 2014, with a bigger population of school children, the likelihood of spreading lice infestation among students is greater. And since our tropical climate worsens the itch we feel in our scalps, more students find themselves scratching their heads, and possibly transferring lice and nits or lice eggs (kuto and lisa) from their fingernails to their friends’, playmates’ and classmates’ hair and personal belongings including combs and hair accessories, and even school, PE, and sports uniforms, as well as jackets and sweaters. Students who go to sleepovers may catch lice from shared pillows and linen.

HEALTHY LYF: Home head lice remedies may cause more harm than good

Having head lice can be an uncomfortable, embarrassing experience; no wonder those who have it want an instant solution, pronto. Some people who don’t want to bother with a trip to the drug store may choose to resort to traditional home remedies. Home remedies for lice, to the mind of those who use them, have two advantages: 1) Easy availability because the cures are just around the house; and 2) Avoidance of embarrassment, which may occur when a person purchases head lice medication—such a person would be afraid of being thought of as being unclean or living in an dirty household.

HEALTHY LYF: Help your child cope with lice-triggered bullying

Having lice poses bigger problems for Filipino kids than just an itchy scalp—in fact, it can result in psychological trauma that may have long-term effects on a child’s mental health. The psychological trauma may result from the shame and low self-esteem triggered by cruel teasing, if not outright bullying, inflicted on a child with lice.

According to psychiatrist Dr. Genuina Ranoy, who is also a specialist in child psychiatry, she has adult patients who are still suffering from the psychological trauma due to bullying and teasing they experienced as children.

“Bullying and teasing can have far-reaching effects on a person’s mental health. It doesn’t matter what the reason for the teasing is, as long as the teasing reaches a degree that damages a person’s sense of self-worth. For example, I had a patient who suffered from mental anguish that was rooted in the teasing and bullying she experienced as child. The reason? She was teased and bullied because she had old, worn-out socks. Her family was poor and so her parents couldn’t afford to buy her new socks. She suffered psychological problems as a result of this trauma,” Dr. Ranoy said.

HEALTHY LYF: Investigative Report: The Prevalence of Lice Infestation Among Filipino Children

In a tropical country like the Philippines, head lice infestation is a common problem especially among school-aged children. In a study by the Department of Education and the University of the Philippines last year, pediculosis (lice infestation) is the second most common problem among students after tooth decay. In 2000, it was estimated that around 9 million students or 84% of the total public school children population in Metro Manila and in some provinces, were carriers of head lice. Pediculosis or “kuto” affects children aged 7 to 12 years. Students from Southern Tagalog and Western Visayas were found to have the largest number of pupils affected by head lice.