[Comparison of Enterobius vermicularis infection among preschool children in Ta-Liao District of Kaohsiung County with that in Kaohsiung City].

To compare the rate of E. vermicularis infection among preschool children in Ta-Liao District of Kaohsiung County, with that in Kaohsiung City, a total of 532 preschool children from 7 kindergartens in Ta-Liao District, Kaohsiung County and 544 preschool children from Kaohsiung City kindergartens were randomly collected. The preschool children were examined for E. vermicularis infection with a scotch tape perianal swab technique (S.T.P.S.T.). After examination, the preschool childrens' parents were also interviewed. The interview included the following factors: personal data of the preschool children (age, sex and birthplace); the size of the living quarters (measured in "Ping") and the number of rooms in the living quarters; the play area floor material (e.g. carpet, wood, tile, etc.); the total number of family members; the distribution of family members in bedrooms; the frequency of finger-sucking and the frequency of hand-washing before eating meals and after using toilets; the preschool childrens' primary caregiver; the occupations of both parents; and the means and times of bathing. The obtained data were analyzed and E. vermicularis infection among the preschool children in Ta-Liao District and Kaohsiung City were compared using the Mantel-Haenszel statistical program in Statistical Analysis System (S.A.S) software. The present results indicated that the rate of E. vermicularis infection among preschool children was higher in Ta-Liao District than in Kaohsiung City.