PARASITOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SOME INTESTINAL PARASITES IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ASWAN GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

This cross sectional study in Aswan Governorate determined the prevalence of intestinal parasites and to identify the risk factors for infection in primary school children in this geographical area. The results would facilitate evaluation of the endemic level of different intestinal parasites and the determination of whether wiqespread or focal measures of parasite control are required. After obtaining official permission from the school administration, information and consent forms were given to the parents of all the schoolchildren. They were three-hundreds children aged between 6-12 year were enrolled; a detailed questionnaire, complete clinical assessment complete as well as stool analysis was done The study showed that the over-all infection was 31%, single parasitic infection was 26% and mixed one was 5%.The commonest helminthic infection was E. vermicularis 6.6% followed by H. nana 3% Ascaris lumbricoidesl%. The commonest protozoa infection was E. histolytica 8.3% followed by Giardia lamblia 3.7% and Cryptosporidium parvum 1.7%. Mixed infection was E. vernficularis plus E. histolytica (23.4%), E vermicularis plus G. lamblia (17.6%), E. vermicularis plus C. parvum (11.8%), E. histolytica plus H. nana (11.85%), A. -lumbricoides plus E. histolytica (17.6%) and G. lamblia plus E. histolytica in (11.8%). Parasitic infection was more prevalent in boys (53.8%) than girls (46.2%) and more prevalent in rural children (39.73%) than urban ones (20.13%) among age ranged from 6 to 12 years (8.97±1.72).