Prevalence and symptoms of Enterobius vermicularis infections in a Peruvian shanty town

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1991 Nov-Dec;85(6):761-4. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(91)90448-8.

Abstract

The prevalence and symptoms of pinworm infection were determined in a shanty town in Lima, Peru. In 206 families, pinworm infection rates were highest in primary school age children (42%). Approximately one-fourth of pre-school children and secondary school-age children were infected with pinworms. Two examinations detected 74% of patients who were positive after 5 examinations. Symptoms often attributed to pinworm infection, such as perianal itching enuresis, and teeth grinding, occurred in a similar proportion of infected children (15%, 17%, 13%, respectively) and non-infected subjects (11%, 13%, 11%, respectively). Enuresis was more common in primary school-age children with high pinworm egg counts than in their non-infected contemporaries. 52% (28/54) of children under 5 years old became reinfected within 6 months of effective treatment. In a community where water is scarce and hand washing is infrequent, the high rate of perianal itching is probably an important source of faecal-oral contamination. The low morbidity and high reinfection rate make routine treatment of pinworm infection in third world countries a low priority, except when clinically indicated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxyuriasis / complications
  • Oxyuriasis / epidemiology*
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Pruritus / etiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Albendazole