The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Schoolchildren with Annual Anthelminthic Treatment in Narathiwat Province, Thailand

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites and the impact of annual anthelminthic treatment in rural and urban schools in Narathiwat Province, Thailand. A total of 346 stool specimens were collected from schoolchildren aged 4-12 years, and fecal examinations for parasites performed. Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were the most frequently observed helminths. Blastocystis hominis was the most frequently observed protozoan, and it was more prevalent in urban schools with better sanitation and hygienic conditions. A halfyearly round of repeated anthelminthic treatment for the schoolchildren is recommended to reduce prevalence. To limit transmission of protozoans in the future, anti-protozoan treatments may be considered for inclusion in any parasite control program in a community with a moderate or high prevalence of protozoan infection. Keywords : parasite; helminthic infections; protozoan; anthelminthic; schoolchildren; Thailand