Korean J Parasitol.  2009 Jun;47(2):185-187. 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.185.

Prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis Infection among Preschool Children in Kindergartens of Taipei City, Taiwan in 2008

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Parasitology, Taipei Medical University College of Medicine, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan. tedfan@tmu.edu.tw
  • 2School of Medical Laboratory Science & Biotechnology, Taipei Medical University College of Medicine, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan.
  • 3Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University College of Medicine, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan.
  • 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Taipei City Hospital Yang-Ming Branch, 105 Yusheng Street, Shihlin, Taipei 111, Taiwan.

Abstract

The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection among preschool children was reported to be low based on a 5-year screening program in Taipei City, Taiwan. The Taipei City government intended to terminate the E. vermicularis screening program among preschool children. Thus, we were entrusted with confirming whether pinworm infections among preschool children in Taipei City had truly declined. From each of 12 administrative districts 2-3 kindergartens were randomly selected for investigation. In total, 4,349 children were examined, of which 2,537 were boys and 1,812 were girls. The cellophane tape adhered to a glass slide was used, and all examinations were done by certified medical technologists. Results indicated that the overall prevalence rate of pinworm infections was 0.62% (27/4,349). Although the infection rate was higher among boys (0.67%, 17/2,537) than in girls (0.55%, 10/1,812), no significant difference was found (chi2 = 0.399, P = 0.62). According to the administrative district, the infection rate ranged from no positive cases of E. vermicularis infection in the Xinyi, Zhongzhen, and Wanhua Districts (0%; 0/299, 0/165, and 0/358, respectively), to 0.26% (1/131) in Songshan District, with the highest rate of 1.88% (7/373) in Wenshan District. Because the overall infection rate (0.62%, 27/4,349) in the present study was unchanged compared to that (0.40%, 197/49,541) previously reported in 2005, we propose that regular pinworm screening and treatment programs should be continued in some parts of Taipei City.

Keyword

Enterobius vermicularis; pinworm; prevalence; preschool children; Taipei; Taiwan

MeSH Terms

Animals
Child Day Care Centers
Child, Preschool
Enterobiasis/*epidemiology
Enterobius/*isolation & purification
Female
Humans
Male
Microscopy/methods
Prevalence
Taiwan/epidemiology
Full Text Links
  • KJP
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr