Investigation of the frequency of intestinal parasitosis among the primary and secondary school students in Yığılca

This study was carried out to determine prevalence of intestinal parasiticinfections among primary and secondary school children in Yığılca and to evaluateits association with socio-demographic factors, behavioral habits and also relatedcomplaints. A total 543 stool specimens and 510 cellophane tape specimens werecollected. The stool samples were examined by direct microscopic examination andlugol, asit-fast and trichrom staining methods after formol-ether concentrationtechnique. By species, the rate for Enterobius vermicularis was 16.1%, Giardiaintestinalis 15.1%, various nonpathogen parasites 13.9 %, Ascaris lumbricoides 0.19% and Hymenolepis nana 0.19%. These results and responses of a questionnaireanswered by children and their families were analyzed together.We evaluated the relations between intestinal parasites and some risk factorsand we found a significant correlation for the following factors: education level ofthe parents, family income, father?s job. Sex of children, toilet habits in school, usingsoap and toilet paper, type of hand washing, and other hygiene behaviors found tohave no affect on parasitosis while the prevelance of G.intestinalis was higheramong the children which dont wash hands after defecation. Symptoms of parasitosissuch as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nasal itching, itching around the anus, seeing wormin stool, growth retardation, and low hemoglobin level were not related with beinginfected with parasites.Frequent occurrence of G.intestinalis and E.vermicularis, which are theparasites closely related to personal hygiene, exposed the lack of children?s hygieneknowledge. More over the higher incidence of these two parasites in children withlow-educated parents may be due to inadequate hygiene education at home. Based onthese data,it is recommended that an educational programme which includes parentsand children should be initiated in the region to increase the knowledge of parasitosisand hygiene habits for the control of parasitic diseases. Furthermore, G.intestinalis isalso a water-borne pathogen, the waters resources in the region should be examinedmicrobiologically.KEY WORDS, Intestinal parasites, students, Yığılca, G.intestinalis, E.vermicularis