Prevalence of parasites in kindergarten children

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infection may cause many health problems in children throughout the developing world and lead to micro-nutrient deficiencies, anaemia, retarded growth and development. It is important to recognise the less overt and subtle manifestations of parasitic infections in vulnerable hosts, especially in children below six years of age. A cross-sectional study was carried out in eight urban kindergartens in Beibei, China, with the purpose of achieving a better understanding of the distribution of entero-parasites. One thousand, seven hundred and forty-nine children aged 2–6 years were selected randomly for the study. Ethics approvals were obtained both from Beibei Education Committee and Beibei Health Bureau before the survey. Stool and anal swab specimens of the children were analysed by the modified Kato-Katz thick smear method and by direct microscopy. The prevalence rate for the three parasites was 14.9% (16.3% in males and 13.6% in females) and varied from 2.6–37.0% for each of the eight kindergartens. The overall prevalence for Ascaris lumbricoides was 6.2%, while for Trichuris trichiura it was 0.9% and for Enterobius vermicularis was 7.8% (Table 1). Prevalence also varied by age: for A. lumbricoides it was 4.7–11.3%, for T. trichiura it was 0–7.5%, for E. vermicularis it was 0–11%. No consistent relationship between age and parasite prevalence was seen.Table 1Prevalence rates (%) of parasites in kindergarten children in Beibei, RC.KindergartenAscaris lumbricoidesTrichuris trichiuraEnterobius vermicularisTotal11.01.00.52.625.91.006.937.00.43.511.046.94.2011.155.20.39.114.667.31.112.921.376.7020.026.7817.42.217.437.0 Open table in a new tab The overall prevalence rate of below 15% for the three parasites in children was much less than that of 25–90% reported amongst healthy preschool-age children in some tropical areas.1de Silva N.R. de Silva H.J. Jaypani V.P. Intestinal parasites in the Kandy area, Sri Lanka.Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1994; 25: 469-473PubMed Google Scholar, 2Martin J. Keymer A. Isherwood R.J. Wainwright S.M. The prevalence and intensity of Ascaris lumbricoides infections in Moslem children from northern Bangladesh.Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1983; 77: 702-706Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (53) Google Scholar, 3Olsen A. The proportion of helminth infections in a community in western Kenya which would be treated by mass chemotherapy of school children.Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1998; 92: 144-148Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar The prevalence rate of parasites in general and of Ascaris lumbricoides in particular was significantly higher in boys than in girls in the five age groups. This can be attributed to the fact that boys are more active and mobile and thus more integrated into their environment, and have greater contact with potential sources of infection. This finding is consistent with earlier reported studies.4Malta RCG Waib C.M. Branco A.C. Epidemiologic evaluation of enteric parasites in children at nursery school, Lins (SP, Brazil).Revista de Patologia Tropical. 2002; 31: 109-120Google Scholar, 5Dagoye D. Bekele Z. Woldemichael K. Nida H. et al.Wheezing, allergy, and parasite infection in children in urban and rural Ethiopia.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003; 167: 1369Crossref PubMed Scopus (154) Google Scholar This study again confirms that parasite infection is most common in children under the age of five.5Dagoye D. Bekele Z. Woldemichael K. Nida H. et al.Wheezing, allergy, and parasite infection in children in urban and rural Ethiopia.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003; 167: 1369Crossref PubMed Scopus (154) Google Scholar, 6Millet V.E. Spencer M.J. Chapin M.R. Garcia L.S. Yatabe J.H. Stewart M.E. Intestinal protozoan infection in a semicommunal group.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1983; 32: 54-60PubMed Google Scholar Thus far it has been shown that parasite burdens are sex-dependent, age-dependent and kindergarten-dependent. Proper health care and health education of kindergarten children is essential for reduction and control of enteric parasite infections. Conflict of interest: No conflict of interest to declare.