title: Intestinal parasitosis in school children of Lalitpur district of Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enteric parasites are the most common cause of parasitic diseases and cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries like Nepal. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among school going children of Lalitpur district of Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1392 stool samples were collected from school children of two government, two private and two community schools of the same district. The stool samples were examined for evidence of parasitic infections by direct microscopy and confirmed by concentration methods (formal ether sedimentation technique or floatation technique by using Sheather's sugar solution). Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining was performed for the detection of coccidian parasites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was found to be 16.7%. The highest prevalence rate was seen with Giardia lamblia (7.4%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (3.4%) and Cyclospora cayetanensis (1.6%). Children aged 11-15 years and the ones belonging to family of agriculture workers were most commonly affected. Hand washing practice and type of drinking water also showed significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of parasitic infections among the school children, coupled with the poor sanitary conditions in the schools, should be regarded as an issue of public health priority and demands for effective school health programs involving periodic health education and screening.
authors.forename: Sarmila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tandukar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. shamshulansari483@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shamshul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Nabaraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.forename: Anisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Jyotshana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Binita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rajbhandari
authors.forename: Shikshya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Hari Prasad
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Nepal
authors.forename: Jeevan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sherchand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D021744:Cyclospora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021866:Cyclosporiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools