Association of Geohelminth Infections in Institutionalized Children

Tudor Rareş O. Olariu1, Andrea Ildikó Koreck2, and Cristina Petrescu3

1 Department of Parasitology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania
2 Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Hungary
3 Department of Hygiene, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania

Corresponding author: Tudor Rareş Olariu, MD, PhD,
    Department of Parasitology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy
    Piaţa Eftimie Murgu nr.2
    1900 Timişoara, Romania
    Telephone: +40-723-371-551
    E-mail: rolariu@umft.ro

CEJOEM 2004, Vol.10. No.1.: 41–45


Key words:
Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, geohelminth infections, ascariasis, trichuriasis, soil-transmitted helminth, institutionalized children


Abstract:
The prevalence of parasitic diseases was investigated in a Romanian children care unit. The stool of 173 institutionalized children was examined. Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were identified in 49 (28.32%), and 38 (21.96%) cases, respectively. The prevalence of other parasitic diseases was also evaluated. Giardia lamblia, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, and Entamoeba coli were also diagnosed. Association of geohelminths Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura was found in 31 children, representing 63.26% of Ascaris and 81.57% of Trichuris infections. Clinical and laboratory examinations were conducted to investigate the presence of symptoms and eosinophilia in patients with helminth infections. Finally we evaluated the efficacy of albendazole in the therapy of ascariasis and trichuriasis.


Received: 1 August 2003
Accepted: 12 January 2004

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