title: Enterobius vermicularis and finger sucking in young Swedish children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis and its association with finger sucking in young Swedish children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey with a questionnaire for symptoms of infestation with Enterobius vermicularis, and the children's habit of finger sucking (including fingernail biting). Perianal tape-test for identification of eggs of Enterobius vermicularis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary care, day-care centres, and schools in a Swedish middle-sized town (approx. 80,000 inhabitants).
  
  
  METHODS
  172 children of both sexes, 4-10 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis and its association with finger sucking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21% of the children were symptom-free carriers of Enterobius vermicularis, and finger sucking was strongly associated with a positive tape-test (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More children than previously known seemed to be symptom-free carriers of Enterobius vermicularis. Finger sucking should be considered when treating infested children and especially those with relapsing symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Centre Hertig Knut, Central Hospital, Halmstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herrström
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friström
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Högstedt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017229:Enterobiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D004757:Enterobius; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology