title: Prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis among preschool children in 2003 and 2013 in Xinxiang city, Henan province, Central China.
abstract: The present study was performed to assess the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection among preschool children in Xinxiang city, Henan province, China and the changes in the egg positive rate for E. vermicularis over a 10 year period. A total of 510 preschool children in 17 kindergartens were examined using the cellophane-tape perianal swab method in 2003, while 1734 preschool children in 10 kindergartens were examined in 2013 using the same method. The overall egg positive rate for E. vermicularis was 12.75% (65 out of 510) in 2003 and 5.13% (89 out of 1734) in 2013; the former was significantly higher than the latter (p < 0.05). In both 2003 and 2013, the egg positive rate for 5 to 6-year-old children was significantly higher than that of 2 to 4-year-old children (p < 0.05). However, positive rates were not significantly dependent on gender or area. Among selected personal hygiene factors, no hand washing before eating, sucking fingers or toys, and scratching around the anus were all associated with enterobiasis. The present study confirmed that the prevalence of E. vermicularis infection among preschool children decreased significantly over the 10 year period in Xinxiang city, but infection was still prevalent. Improving sanitation and personal hygiene practices, especially hand washing, could help prevent the transmission of E. vermicularis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Class-2012 Grade of Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, PR China.
authors.forename: Yichen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
authors.forename: Haizhu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
authors.forename: Luwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
authors.forename: Shiguo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017229:Enterobiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004757:Enterobius / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health