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.
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

PURPOSE: To call on health authorities to construct an organized surveillance and investigation system with national financial support for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) in Korea. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted on 19 SUID cases, including an analysis of vital statistics for Korean infants, estimation of costs, and suggestion of plans. RESULTS: SUID is the second most common cause of infant deaths in the ER. Most of the deceased infants in this study were discovered in a prone position and bystanders had not in any of the cases started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene. Immediate intraosseous (IO) access was not performed in the ER. All cases were categorized as "unclassified sudden infant death" according to the San Diego definition because autopsies and various screening tests were not performed. The assumed rate of incidence of SUID in Korea is 0.3~0.56 per 1000 live births per year. The cost for a response per SUID case was estimated to be over one million won. CONCLUSION: 1) Immediate launching of nation-wide "back-to-sleep campaign" is urgent. 2) Certification in infant resuscitation and prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) should be required for workers in day care centers, orphanages or caregivers companies. 3) IO access should be performed immediately for infant cardiac arrest cases in the ER. 4) A nation-wide campaign would also be helpful to change irrational ideas about dead bodies, get public agreement on performing autopsies and raising the autopsy rate. 5) Legislation should be promoted to mandate autopsies and to organize and maintain a surveillance and investigation system with multi-agency support.
Autopsy ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Caregivers ; Certification ; Day Care, Medical ; Financial Support ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infusions, Intraosseous ; Korea* ; Live Birth ; Mass Screening ; Orphanages ; Prone Position ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sudden Infant Death* ; Vital Statistics