title: Prevalence of giardiasis among Malaysian primary school children.
abstract: Giardiasis, a gastrointestinal disease caused by Giardia intestinalis is endemic in Malaysia. The prevalence rate has been reported to range from 1.4% to 11.1%. The present study was undertaken between 1992-1994 in three health districts in three states viz. Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor. Seven thousand five hundred and fifty seven (7557) primary school children between the ages of 6-12 years from the lower socio-economic groups were screened. The prevalence was 0.21%. The study suggests that improved water supply, toilet facilities and sanitation have lowered the prevalence of a waterborne disease in the areas surveyed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Shekhar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prathapa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gurpreet
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools