The Survey on the Intestinal Helminth Infection in Children Living in the Rural Areas of Leizhou City

Objective To investigate the prevalence of intestinal helminthes infection in children living in Leizhou city and to provide scientific basis for the protection and prevention from parasitic infection.Methods Fecal samples from children were randomly collected and examined for the presence of intestinal helminth eggs using the direct smear or saturated brine flotation techniques.Results Fecal samples from 288 children were analyzed.186(64.58%) children were infected with intestinal helminthes,in which the infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was 35.76%.The infection rate of Trichuris trichiura and hookworm was 15.28% and 13.54%,respectively.Conclusion Intestinal helminthes infection in children living in the urban and rural areas is common in Leizhou peninsula.Ascaris lumbricoides is the major species of infection.The infection is related to the income,standard of living and living habits of their family.Prevention of parasitic disease should be considered as an important topic in the child care programs.