title: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Intestinal Parasitic Infection in Schoolchildren in Battambang, Cambodia.
abstract: Most intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs), commonly endemic in tropical resource-poor developing countries, are neglected tropical diseases. Parasitic infections and malnutrition are most commonly found in children. We determined the prevalence of IPIs and the risk factors in Battambang Province, northwestern Cambodia, from August to September 2015. This study collected 308 valid questionnaires and specimens from Dontri (173, 56.2%) and Kon Kaêk (135, 43.8%) primary schools. All stool samples were examined using Chang's Feces Examination Apparatus through the merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde technique. Headache (259, 84.1%), recurrent cough (249, 80.8%), and abdominal pain (235, 76.3%) were the most common symptoms as detected from questionnaire investigation. A total of 155 students were positive for any parasite type; a single parasite type was observed in 97 students (31.5%), two types in 40 students (13.0%), three types in 14 students (4.6%), and four types in four students (1.3%). Nine gastrointestinal parasite species (three helminths and six protozoa) were identified in the stool samples. The most common parasites in schoolchildren wereGiardia intestinalis(31.5%) andEntamoeba histolytica/dispar(17.5%). This is the first IPIs study, and more than half of the schoolchildren were infected with parasite species in Moung Russey District of Battambang Province. We found nine parasite species, including helminths and protozoa, and pathogenic protozoa were the main source of IPIs. Improving the detection method, sanitation facilities, and personal hygiene as well as utilizing combined drugs are all important measures to greatly reduce IPIs in Cambodian schoolchildren.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Division, International Master/PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Chih
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Division, International Master/PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Ching
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Division, International Master/PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ting-Wu
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Juo-Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Division, International Master/PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Kwung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D016844:Blastocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires