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Original ArticleOpen Access
Intestinal Parasitic Infestations Among Children in an Orphanage in Pathum Thani Province
Saksirisampant W 
,
Nuchprayoon S ,
Wiwanitkit V ,
Yenthakam S ,
Ampavasiri A
,
Nuchprayoon S ,
Wiwanitkit V ,
Yenthakam S ,
Ampavasiri A Infection caused by intestinal parasites is still a common health problem especially in children
from developing countries. Orphans are a group of underprivileged population in society. To evaluate
the intestinal parasitic infections in children in an orphanage in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, stool
samples were collected during a cross-sectional study in April 2001. Examination for intestinal para-
sites were performed by using simple smear, formalin-ether concentration, Boeck and Drbohlav's
Locke-Egg-Serum (LES) medium culture and special staining (modified acid-fast and modified
trichrome) techniques. A total of 106 pre-school orphans (60 males and 46 females), aged 10.0-82.0
months, were recruited for the study. There were 86 individuals (81.1% ), 45 males and 41 females,
infected with at least one parasite. Interestingly, most of the parasites identified were protozoa.
Blasto-
cystis hominis
was found at the highest prevalence (45.2%). The infections caused by
Giardia Iamblia
was 37.7 per cent and
Entamoeba histolytica
was 3.7 per cent. Other non-pathogenic protozoa found
were
Trichomonas hominis
(39.6%),
Entamoeba coli
(18.8%), and
Endolimax nana
(3.7%). The only
one case of helminth parasite detected was
Strongyloides stercora/is
(0.9%). The sensitivity for detec-
tion of
B.
hominis
and
T. hominis
was increased by the LES culture technique. No history of diarrhea
symptoms were recorded among these orphans. However, during the investigation, stools of all
infected cases were noted for six characteristics including formed, soft, loose, mucous, loose-watery
and watery.
The present study emphasized the problems of protozoan infections among these orphans.
Health educations as well as routine surveillance is necessary in order to control the infections.
Key word : Intestinal Parasite, Orphanange Children, Orphanage
from developing countries. Orphans are a group of underprivileged population in society. To evaluate
the intestinal parasitic infections in children in an orphanage in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, stool
samples were collected during a cross-sectional study in April 2001. Examination for intestinal para-
sites were performed by using simple smear, formalin-ether concentration, Boeck and Drbohlav's
Locke-Egg-Serum (LES) medium culture and special staining (modified acid-fast and modified
trichrome) techniques. A total of 106 pre-school orphans (60 males and 46 females), aged 10.0-82.0
months, were recruited for the study. There were 86 individuals (81.1% ), 45 males and 41 females,
infected with at least one parasite. Interestingly, most of the parasites identified were protozoa.
Blasto-
cystis hominis
was found at the highest prevalence (45.2%). The infections caused by
Giardia Iamblia
was 37.7 per cent and
Entamoeba histolytica
was 3.7 per cent. Other non-pathogenic protozoa found
were
Trichomonas hominis
(39.6%),
Entamoeba coli
(18.8%), and
Endolimax nana
(3.7%). The only
one case of helminth parasite detected was
Strongyloides stercora/is
(0.9%). The sensitivity for detec-
tion of
B.
hominis
and
T. hominis
was increased by the LES culture technique. No history of diarrhea
symptoms were recorded among these orphans. However, during the investigation, stools of all
infected cases were noted for six characteristics including formed, soft, loose, mucous, loose-watery
and watery.
The present study emphasized the problems of protozoan infections among these orphans.
Health educations as well as routine surveillance is necessary in order to control the infections.
Key word : Intestinal Parasite, Orphanange Children, Orphanage
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