Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among Thai people with mental handicaps.
The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was studied by stool examination in institutionalized and non-institutionalized Thai people with mental handicaps. It was found that the prevalence of infection was much higher in institutionalized (57.6%) than in non-institutionalized people (7.5%). The common parasites found in institutionalized people were Trichuris trichiura (29.7%), Entamoeba coli (23.1%), Giardia intestinalis (8.0%), Hymenolepis nana (7.8%), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (7.1%). Institutionalized mentally handicapped people should be considered as a high risk group for intestinal parasitic infection and a parasitic control measure should be emphasized.
Sirivichayakul
Chukiat
C
Department of Tropical Pediatrics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. headtmpd@mahidol.ac.th
Pojjaroen-anant
Chanathep
C
Wisetsing
Pataraporn
P
Siripanth
Chutatip
C
Chanthavanich
Pornthep
P
Pengsaa
Krisana
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology