In the crowded and unsanitary conditions of Rohingya refugee camps, seemingly harmless pests have revealed themselves as a harbinger of a much more serious health emergency. Head lice, commonly brushed off as a minor annoyance, have emerged as a major concern because of the environment they thrive in among their human hosts.

The prevalence of head lice infestation, medically termed pediculosis capitis, is a pressing global health issue, particularly prevalent among migrant and refugee populations. Studies in Africa, South America, Europe and Asia have showcased a wide spectrum of prevalence rates, ranging from 0.48% to a staggering 61%, with females, particularly young girls, bearing the brunt of infestation. These minute parasites thrive in conditions marked by close contact and poor personal hygiene and sanitation, circumstances regrettably commonplace in refugee settings.