title: Epidemiological survey of the prevalence of parasites among children in Khan Younis governorate, Palestine.
abstract: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was determined for 1,370 children in Khan Younis Governorate, Gaza Strip. The age of the children ranged from 6 to 11 years. For stool samples, inspection, direct smear microscopy, flotation and sedimentation techniques were used. The general prevalence of intestinal parasites was 34.2%. Different types of intestinal parasites were detected during this survey: Ascaris lumbricoides seemed to be the most common parasite (12.8%), whereas Giardia lamblia had a prevalence of 8.0%, Entamoeba histolytica 7.0%, Entamoeba coli 3.6%, Trichuris trichiura 1.6% and Hymenolepis nana 1.0%. The prevalence of enterobiasis was determined using a scotch tape preparation. A total of 20.9% of the children examined were infected and there was sex variation in the prevalence of enterobiasis.
authors.affiliation: Khan Younis Hospital Laboratory, Khan Younis, Gaza-Palestinian Authority, Gaza Strip. zalastal@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Astal
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017678:Sex Distribution