Abstract
The infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis was investigated in 1,191 preschool children in 25 daycare centers in Seoul, Korea by cellotape anal swab from July to August 1999. Both the directors of the daycare centers and the children's parents were asked to complete questionnaires that inquired about the potential risk factors involved. The overall egg positive rate for E. vermicularis was 9.5%, and the prevalence in the daycare centers ranged from 0 to 31.1%. Children aged 6–7 years showed a significantly higher egg positive rate than younger children, but the infection rate was similar for boys and girls. The socioeconomic status of the family and personal hygiene were not associated with enterobiasis, but anthelmintic medication significantly reduced the infection rate. The daycare centers in residential areas showed significantly lower egg positive rates than those situated near traditional markets. The environment of daycare centers is an important factor in enterobiasis, and the mass screening and treatment of children at high risk is recommended.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the directors and teachers of daycare centers for their kind cooperation in distributing and collecting questionnaires. We also thank the parents of children for their kind cooperation, and express our gratitude to the technical staff of Seongbuk Health Center for their assistance with anal swab sampling and microscopic observation.
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Song, HJ., Cho, CH., Kim, JS. et al. Prevalence and risk factors for enterobiasis among preschool children in a metropolitan city in Korea. Parasitol Res 91, 46–50 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0836-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0836-3