title: Enterobiasis and its relationship with anal itching and enuresis among school-age children in Calabar, Nigeria.
abstract: The prevalence of enterobiasis and its relationship with anal itching and enuresis were investigated among 799, randomly selected children aged 5-14 years, who lived, either in an area of high population density or one with a much lower population density, in Calabar, Nigeria. The eggs of Enterobius vermicularis were found in anal swabs (collected with transparent adhesive tape) from 60 (7.5%) of the subjects tested, with the prevalence of infection appearing markedly higher in the 403 children from the area with a high population density than in the 396 from the less densely populated area (11.7% v. 3.3%; P < 0.05). Questionnaire-based interviews were used to determine which of the children suffered from anal itching, enuresis or both. Compared with the egg-negative subjects, the 60 children who were egg-positive for Enterobius were found to be much more likely to be suffering from anal itching (78.3% v. 28.3%; P < 0.05) or enuresis (53.3% v. 36.4%; P < 0.05). Enterobiasis is therefore not a problem that is restricted to the temperate regions of the world, and may be a cause of enuresis or at least a contributory factor in the development of this complaint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Laboratory and Allied Health Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Otu-Bassey
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Ejezie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Epoke
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Useh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017229:Enterobiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004757:Enterobius / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004775:Enuresis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology