Current status of Enterobius vermicularis infection in primary schoolchildren in Miaoli County and Taichung County, Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
No epidemiological survey of the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection in Miaoli County and Taichung County has been conducted. This epidemiological survey was performed to describe the profile of E. vermicularis infection in schoolchildren in Miaoli County and Taichung County.


METHODS
The first part of this study was conducted between November 2005 and February 2006 in Miaoli County. 44,071 primary schoolchildren from 18 districts were examined by 2 consecutive-day adhesive cellophane perianal swabs to estimate the infection rate. The second part was performed between October 2006 and January 2007 in Taichung County. 24,382 primary schoolchildren from 14 districts were examined.


RESULTS
In Miaoli County, the infection rate was 2.39% (1054/44,071). The infection rate was highest in the Taian (6.69%; 20/299), Shytarn (4.49%; 11/245), and Dahu townships (3.6%; 40/1111). In Taichung County, the infection rate was 2.95% (720/24,382). The infection rate was highest in the Da-an (5.46%; 26/476) and Heping townships (4.48%; 9/201). The infection rate for a family with > or =3 children was significantly higher than that for a family with < or =2 children (p = 0.007). The frequency of washing linen and cleaning bedclothes significantly affected the infection rate of enterobiasis (p < 0.01). The efficacy rate for mebendazole was 96%, with no difference between 1 and 2 doses.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of children per family and the frequency of washing linen and cleaning bedclothes were the most important factors for transmission of pinworm infection among the groups surveyed.
Wang
Cheng-Chieh
CC
Department of Pediatrics, Miaoli General Hospital, Miaoli, Taiwan.
Lee
Yuan-Fang
YF
Chang
Chih-Cheng
CC
Lee
Nie-Sue
NS
Chen
Po-Yen
PY
Huang
Fang-Liang
FL
Liou
Nuo-Wei
NW
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D017229:Enterobiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004757:Enterobius / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D013624:Taiwan