1.A Survey of Intestinal Protozoan Infections among Gastroenteritis Patients during a 3-Year Period (2004-2006) in Gyeonggi-do (Province), South Korea.
Jeong Weon HUH ; Su Gyeong MOON ; Young Hee LIM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2009;47(3):303-305
The incidence and etiology of parasite-associated gastroenteritis during 2004-2006 in Gyeonggi-do (province), South Korea was determined by means of antigen detection ELISA on 6,071 stool specimens collected from 6 general hospitals. At least 1 parasitic agent was detected in 3.4% (208/6,071) of the stool samples. Among these, Giardia lamblia was the most numerous (152 cases; 2.5%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (25 cases; 0.4%), Cryptosporidium parvum (23 cases; 0.4%), and mixed infections (8 cases; 0.1%). Patients aged 1-5 years had the largest proportion (69.2%; 144/208) of parasite-positive stool specimens. Parasite-mediated gastroenteritis was most common from June to September. The detection rate gradually increased from 2004 to 2006. This study shows that parasite-mediated gastroenteritis may be significant among children in Korea and that parasite infection surveillance should be constantly performed.
Adolescent
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Adult
;
Age Distribution
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Animals
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Child
;
Child, Preschool
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Data Collection
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Eukaryota/*isolation & purification
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Feces/parasitology
;
Gastroenteritis/*epidemiology/parasitology
;
Humans
;
Infant
;
Protozoan Infections/*epidemiology/parasitology
;
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
;
Seasons
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Young Adult