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Intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Haytham Ahmed Zakai1

  • 1Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80205 Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia. hzakai@kaau.edu.sa

Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
|December 14, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A study found a low prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Jeddah primary school children. Giardia lamblia was the most common parasite, indicating good school hygiene practices.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Intestinal parasitic infections are a significant global health concern, particularly in school-aged children.
  • Assessing parasite prevalence is crucial for understanding transmission dynamics and implementing control measures.
  • Jeddah's diverse primary school settings necessitated an investigation into local infection rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in Jeddah.
  • To identify the most common intestinal parasites affecting this demographic.
  • To evaluate the impact of school health and hygiene on parasite prevalence.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 1000 primary school children in Jeddah.
  • Questionnaires collected demographic and guardian-reported data.
  • Stool samples from 231 participants were analyzed using the formaline-ether concentration technique.

Main Results:

  • A low overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was found, with 22 out of 231 samples (9.5%) testing positive.
  • Giardia lamblia was the most frequently identified parasite.
  • Multiple parasitic infections were rare, observed in only 3 samples.

Conclusions:

  • The low prevalence suggests effective health and hygiene standards in the studied Jeddah primary schools.
  • Continued monitoring and health education are recommended to maintain low infection rates.
  • This study provides baseline data for future public health interventions in the region.

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