title: Intestinal parasites in immigrant children from Central America.
abstract: To begin to characterize the health needs of the growing number of refugees from Central America, we compiled the results of examinations for ova and parasites of a single stool specimen of each of 128 children of Central American and Mexican background who entered our health center during a four-month period. Among the 96 children who were born in Central America or Mexico, there was a 65% prevalence of parasitic infestation. Pathogens were found in 46% and multiple pathogens in 14%. Among the 32 American-born children there was a 13% prevalence of parasitic infection, but no pathogens were found. There was no correlation between symptoms and the presence of parasites. Screening Central American immigrant children for intestinal parasites is a high-yield procedure and should be part of their routine health care.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001200:Ascaris / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002140:California; D002489:Central America / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D012036:Refugees; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification