Prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in Deir El-Balah Town in Gaza Strip Palestine [letter]

Intestinal parasites are prevalent in many countries all over the world. Low socioeconomic standards poor sanitation improper hygienic practices lack of awareness and environmental factors contribute to this phenomenon. Gaza Strip in Palestine is an overpopulated area without any proper sewage disposal system in most of the localities. This in addition to low standards of living contribute to the high prevalence of parasitic diseases. Two studies on the prevalence of the intestinal parasites revealed that the most common parasites among school children in Gaza and camps were: Ascaris lumbricoides Entamoeba histolytica Enterobius vermicularis Hymenolepis nana and Giardia lamblia. Higher prevalences of Ascaris lumbricoides Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia among children have been recorded by Al-Wahaidi in different areas of Gaza. (excerpt)