Prevalence of intestinal parasites infections among Afghan children of primary and junior high schools residing Kashan city, Iran, 2009-2010

Intestinal parasites are one of the major medical and health problems in the developing countries that cause malnutrition, diarrhea, weight loss and anemia in humans, especially in children. This study was done to the prevalence of intestinal parasites in the Afghan children of the primary and junior high schools of city to evaluate some of the related risk factors. this descriptive study was carried out on 430 Afghan students in 2009- 2010.The students were collected by random multi-sectional sampling. Their feces were examined with direct and formalin-ether concentration. Scotch tape test was also performed for 244 students. Prevalence of the parasites and their relationship to some factors such as sex and age group were determined. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test. out of the 430 students, 49.7% were male and the rest were female. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 33.5%. The frequency of pathogenic intestinal parasite was 15.4%. The rate of intestinal parasite infections were: Entamoeba coli 16.5%, Giardia lamblia 8.8%,Blastocystis hominis 7%, Endolimax nana 3.4%, Iodamoeba buchlelli 3.4%, Chilomastix mesnili 1.62%, Entamoeba histolytica/E.dispar 1.2%,Hymenolepis nana 1.8%, and Ascaris lumbricoides0.2%.Entrobius vermicularis was found in 13.5% of the students using scotch tape test.There was a significant statistical association between duration of living in Afghanistan and intestinal parasitic infections.(p≤0.03) According to the results of this study, the prevalence of parasitic infections in the Afghan children was rather high. Examination and treatment of the students, education of the children and their parents and teachers in the field of personal hygine and environmental sanitation are necessary for prevention of parasite transmission.