Intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children in south Jordan

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to find out the prevalence of intestinal parasitic among primary school population [the most vulnerable group] in South Jordan. Among investigations, stool specimens were collected from 2400 primary schoolchildren aged from 6-12 years and examined for the detection of intestinal parasitic infection from both urban and rural areas in South Jordan. The results indicated that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 28.5% which was more in rural than urban areas, but no sex difference was found. As regard to the type of infection, Giardia lamblia was the most common intestinal protozoa detected with a rate of 42.6% of the cases, followed by Entamoeba histolytica [26.2%]; while Enterobius vermicularis and Ascaris lumbricoides were the most common helminthes recorded in the study with rates of 5.9% and 5.4%, respectively