Status of Intestinal Parasite Infections among 4,137 Residents from Provinces Nationwide and Metropolitan Areas in the Republic of Korea(2004) / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: The status of intestinal parasite infections among the residents of nationwide geographical areas in the Republic of Korea has been little investigated since 1997. The present study was designed to estimate the infection status of intestinal parasites among residents of several geographical areas in the Republic of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples of 4,137 people (men:2,170, women:1,967) who visited the Korea Association of Health Promotion for a health check-up were collected from July to September, 2004. Specimens were examined for helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts using the Kato-Katz thick smear, formalin-ether sedimentation, and modified acid-fast staining techniques. RESULTS: Helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts were found in 322 (7.8%) of the 4,137 specimens examined. The helminth species detected were Clonorchis sinensis (in 259 specimens; 6.3%), Metagonimus sp. (14; 0.34%), Pygidiopsis summa (5; 0.12%), unidentified heterophyids (24; 0.58%), Echinostoma sp. (4; 0.1%), Gymnophalloides seoi (4; 0.1%), Paragonimus westermani (1; 0.02%), Trichuris trichiura (10; 0.24%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1; 0.02%), hookworms (1; 0.02%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (larva positive) (1; 0.02%). The protozoans detected were Entamoeba coli (9; 0.22%), Giardia lamblia (1; 0.02%), and Isospora sp. (1; 0.02%). The parasite positive rate was the highest in Gyeongsangnam-do (38 specimens; 15.3%), followed in decreasing order by Gwangju/ Jeollanam-do (56; 13.9%), Busan (58; 12.3%), Gyeongsangbuk-do (18; 11.2%), Daejeon/Chungcheongnam-do (42; 8.1%), Chungcheongbuk-do (18; 8.0%), Incheon (10; 7.0%), Daegu (22; 6.8 %), Gyeonggi-do (25; 5.0%), Jeollabuk-do (7; 4.4%), Gangwon-do (6; 3.5%), Seoul (20; 2.6%), and Jeju-do (2; 2.0%). The male positive rate (225/2,170; 10.4%) was significantly higher than that of females (95/1,967; 4.8%) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fish-borne trematodes including C. sinensis and heterophyids appear to be the major intestinal parasites among residents of the Republic of Korea. Control efforts are required against these fish-borne parasitic zoonoses.

Status of Intestinal Parasite Infections among 4,137 Residents from Provinces Nationwide and Metropolitan Areas in the Republic of Korea(2004) / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: The status of intestinal parasite infections among the residents of nationwide geographical areas in the Republic of Korea has been little investigated since 1997. The present study was designed to estimate the infection status of intestinal parasites among residents of several geographical areas in the Republic of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples of 4,137 people (men:2,170, women:1,967) who visited the Korea Association of Health Promotion for a health check-up were collected from July to September, 2004. Specimens were examined for helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts using the Kato-Katz thick smear, formalin-ether sedimentation, and modified acid-fast staining techniques. RESULTS: Helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts were found in 322 (7.8%) of the 4,137 specimens examined. The helminth species detected were Clonorchis sinensis (in 259 specimens; 6.3%), Metagonimus sp. (14; 0.34%), Pygidiopsis summa (5; 0.12%), unidentified heterophyids (24; 0.58%), Echinostoma sp. (4; 0.1%), Gymnophalloides seoi (4; 0.1%), Paragonimus westermani (1; 0.02%), Trichuris trichiura (10; 0.24%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1; 0.02%), hookworms (1; 0.02%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (larva positive) (1; 0.02%). The protozoans detected were Entamoeba coli (9; 0.22%), Giardia lamblia (1; 0.02%), and Isospora sp. (1; 0.02%). The parasite positive rate was the highest in Gyeongsangnam-do (38 specimens; 15.3%), followed in decreasing order by Gwangju/ Jeollanam-do (56; 13.9%), Busan (58; 12.3%), Gyeongsangbuk-do (18; 11.2%), Daejeon/Chungcheongnam-do (42; 8.1%), Chungcheongbuk-do (18; 8.0%), Incheon (10; 7.0%), Daegu (22; 6.8 %), Gyeonggi-do (25; 5.0%), Jeollabuk-do (7; 4.4%), Gangwon-do (6; 3.5%), Seoul (20; 2.6%), and Jeju-do (2; 2.0%). The male positive rate (225/2,170; 10.4%) was significantly higher than that of females (95/1,967; 4.8%) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fish-borne trematodes including C. sinensis and heterophyids appear to be the major intestinal parasites among residents of the Republic of Korea. Control efforts are required against these fish-borne parasitic zoonoses.

A nationwide survey of the prevalence of human Gymnophalloides seoi infection on western and southern coastal islands in the Republic of Korea

A nationwide survey was performed to know the distribution and prevalence of human Gymnophalloides seoi infection on western and southern coastal islands in the Republic of Korea. A total of 4,178 fecal specimens were collected from residents on 45 (24 western and 21 southern) islands, and examined by Kato-Katz and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. Eggs of G. seoi were detected from 160 (3.8%) people living on 22 (13 western and 9 southern) islands. The prevalence varied by the location of islands; higher on western islands than on southern islands. The highest prevalence was found on Amtaedo (25.3%), followed by Cheungdo (25.0%), and Anchwado (20.9%) (Shinan-gun). A little lower prevalence was observed on Munyodo (13.3%), Shinshido (12.9%), and Sonyudo (10.3%) (Kunsan-shi). Of the remaining islands, the regions showing the prevalence greater than 5% included Kohado, Dallido (Mokpo-shi), Pyeongildo, Kogumdo (Wando-gun), and Keogumdo (Kohung-gun). A strong age predilection was noted (P < 0.05); 95% of the infected people were over 40 years old. Females showed a little higher prevalence than males. The results indicate that human G. seoi infection is more widely distributed than previously considered. Nine of 11 islands (excluding the 2 known areas Munyodo and Sunyudo) that showed greater prevalence than 5% are regarded as new endemic foci of G. seoi.

The Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Preschool Children / 대한소아혈액종양학회지

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency still remains the most common single nutrient deficiency disorder in the world, especially among young children and adolescent girls. As little is recently known about iron deficiency in infants and preschool children in Korea, this study is aimed to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in healthy population and to determine the proportion of children in whom iron deficiency goes undetected using the current screening technique. METHODS: We collected venous samples from 410 apparently healthy preschool children during March to June, 1997, as a part of a regular health check-up program. We measured hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume(MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH), serum ferritin, serum iron, and total iron binding capacity(TIBC). RESULTS: A total of 410 infants and preschool children aged 1~6 years were included in this study. The prevalence of anemia was 7.9%(3/38) in infants and children aged 1~2 years, 6.3%(12/190) in 3~4 years and 1.6%(3/182) in 5~6 years. The prevalence of iron deficiency(ferritin <10 ng/mL or transferrin saturation <10%) was 31.6%(12/38) in 1~2 years, 23.7%(45/190) in 3~4 years and 14.3%(26/182) in 5~6 years. The prevalence of IDA was 5.3% (2/38) in 1~2 years, 1.1% (2/190) in 3~4 years and 0.5%(1/182) in 5~6 years. Microcytic anemia was found in only 2 cases, both of which is included in 1~2 years of age. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA was relatively high in 1~2 years of age, critical period for neurologic development. Nutritional education including iron fortification for mothers having caring babies especially of this age group should be warranted.