Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a public health problem worldwide. This study included 300 children of both sexes, from 4-16 years old. All were subjected to a structured questionnaire sheet, stool examination using: Direct smear and con- centration technique as well as perianal swab. The IPIs prevalence was 12.7%, with 7.9% double infections. The protozoan infections 47.4% was higher than the helminthic ones 44.7%. Giardia duodenalis was the commonest protozoan, and Entrobius vermicularis was the commonest worm. The children suffered from abdominal pain (11.1%), diarrhea (3.8%), perianal itching (71.4%) and thrive failure (17.4%). Male positivity was 11.9% and female positivity was 13.2%. Intestinal parasites were detected in 25.5% of population drinking tap water, followed by 6.1% among those drinking filtrated water. Moreover, IPIs prevalence was 8.1% in children having a family size equal or less than 5 members, whereas 18.9% of children having a family size more than 5 members. Moreover the frequency was higher among rural 15.3% compared to urban inhabitants 7.3%, also in farming family was 16.5% followed by 7.7% among other job holders and among children to illiterate mothers 13% followed by children to educated mothers 12.3%. |
