Negligible Egg Positive Rate of Enterobius vermicularis and No Detection of Head Lice among Orphanage Children in Busan and Ulsan, Korea (2014).
10.3347/kjp.2015.53.4.497
- Author:
Dong Hee KIM
1
;
Hyun Mi SON
;
Sang Hwa LEE
;
Mi Kyung PARK
;
Shin Ae KANG
;
Sang Kyun PARK
;
Jun Ho CHOI
;
Jung Ha PARK
;
Hak Sun YU
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Korea.
- Publication Type:Brief Communication ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Enterobiasis;
orphanage;
head louse;
risk factor;
Busan;
Ulsan
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Animals;
Child;
Child, Preschool;
Enterobiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology;
Enterobius/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology;
Female;
Humans;
Hygiene;
Lice Infestations/*epidemiology/parasitology;
Male;
Orphanages/statistics & numerical data;
Pediculus/genetics/*physiology;
Prevalence;
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2015;53(4):497-499
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
To determine whether pinworm infections and head lice infestations spread among children in orphanages, 117 children from 4 orphanages in Busan-si and Ulsan-si, Korea, were examined for enterobiasis and head lice infestation between January and February 2014. The overall rate of Enterobius vermicularis egg positivity was 0.85%, whereas none of the children had head lice infestations. The rate of pinworm infection was much lower among the orphanage children compared to the rates observed in previous studies among kindergarten and primary school students. Moreover, the risk factors for enterobiasis were less frequent among these subjects than previously reported. The personal hygiene and health of the orphanage children were supervised by a regular, employed nurse through a health education program. In conclusion, pinworm infection was efficiently controlled among the children in orphanages, and this might be related to good personal hygiene practices in Korea.
