RESUMO
Children living in institutions as orphanages are more exposed to intestinal parasitism, since crowding and behavioral pattern contribute greatly to the spread of parasitic infection. The present study was conducted on 100 children living in Ain-Shams and El-Mowassa orphanages, Cairo. Twenty children living under appropriate health conditions were studied as controls. Ages of both groups ranged from 6 to 12 years. The results of this study revealed that 69/100 [69%] orphanage children were positive for parasitic infection, while 8/20 [40%] control subjects were positive for parasitic infection, the difference was statistically significant. Enterobius vermicularis was the commonest parasite among both groups. Other parasitic infections detected were Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Hymenolepis nana and Entamoeba coli with a prevalence of 10%, 9%, 2% and 9%, respectively, in the study group compared with 15%, 10%, 0% and 5% in the control group. The differences were statistically not significant. Cryptosporidium oocysts were not detected in both groups