210 female and 90 male students out of 300 were visually inspected for head lice (P. humanus capitis). P. humanus capitis infestations were discovered in about 31 students (10.3%), with female students having a greater infestation rate than male students (Table 1). from the total number of student four infected males with rate (4.44%) and 27 females infected with rate (13%).

A significant worldwide concern is head lice (Pediculushumanuscapitis), and there is mounting evidence that their frequency is rising among schoolchildren [15]. It is characterized by the existence of a minimum of one surviving adult, nymph, or viable nit. One of the most significant obligate ectoparasites that infest humans are head lice, which can range in prevalence from less than 1% to over 50% depending on the country[16]. Despite the significance of louse infestation for public health, little is known about the epidemiological landscape of louse-borne diseases and the worldwide burden of pediculosis [17]. Due to inadequate service and poor sanitation, the majority of students in Kirkuk, Iraq, are the subjects of the current study. The overall prevalence of pediculosis among Kirkuk-Iraqi students was 10.3%, which is less than some student surveys have found. According to a recent study conducted in Kut, the infection rates among schoolchildren were 13.3% for boys and 21.8% for females [18]. The variation in age could be the cause of the greater infection rate. Most research focuses on schoolchildren [19]. Poland conducted a poll from 2014 to 2018. There were reports of pediculosis capitis in 87.5% of the schools. A study in Thailand reveals The primary school level had the highest infestation rate (87.5%), Infestation rates among Saudi schoolchildren were Among participants, females had a greater infection rate (94.08%) than males (5.91%) [20]. In Egypt, schoolchildren had a high prevalence of pediculosis (54.1%), in the same study in Iran, the infestation rate was 6.85% [21], while in Palestine the rate reaches 14.1% [22], all these results were higher in comparison with Socioeconomic, cultural, environmental, and climatic factors contributed to the prevalence of pediculosis among the kids in the current study. Additionally, as primary school students are at a vital age for personal cleanliness, the majority of pediculosis research done in Iraq concentrated on them. According to a study conducted in Kirkuk province, Iraq, among elementary school students, the prevalence of pediculosis infestation was 6.5% [23]. This variation in the prevalence of head lice infection may be caused by a variety of factors, including head-to-head contacts, diagnostic techniques, eradication methods, pesticide resistance, head lice education, and the perception of pediculosis as a health problem [24].The season, lack of access to quality of medical care, insufficient sanitation and socioeconomic status, and the use of inferior anti-lice shampoo that is sold commercially because pediculosis is out of control are some other factors that contribute to the increased prevalence of parasitic infections and head pediculosis. the use of emerging omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) to elucidate the mechanisms that underpin the physiological, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of lice, In the current study, the infestation rate among female was significantly higher than in male, which was consistent with many other studies [25]. The behavioral differences between the sexes could be the cause of this. In general, girls have longer hair than boys, and guys tend to make brief touch during rough or athletic activity. The incidence of head lice was significantly correlated with age; in the current study, the highest infestation rate (20%) was seen in those aged 6–12, followed by those aged 12–15. This finding was consistent with [26]. in Al Kut city , Personal hygiene habits, such as routinely combing and washing one's hair, as well as activities, may be the cause of the variance in infestation rates among age groups [27]. Children may have a higher infestation incidence since they engage in more activities and are likely to rely on one another for personal cleanliness. However, due to their higher level of health education and occasional independence, adults above the age of 18 had a lower infection rate [28]. In the case of schools, the majority of the packed classrooms were seated together in a common area, interacting with one another and sharing resources. The majority of students wash their hair and take a bath once a week, particularly during the winter, due to This trait has the highest rate of infestation among them because to the cold weather, which may be connected to these disputes. Furthermore, according to certain research, hair length did not seem to be a risk factor in and of itself [29,30]. But according to other research, girls with longer hair had higher lice infestations [31,32]. The results can be explained by the fact that most students have similar hair types and, due to their lifestyle choices, do not have long hair. There was no clear correlation between pediculosis infestation and scalp illness in the current research..