Prevalence of <i>Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura</i>, and <i>Enterobius vermicularis</i> in the hands of preschool children in day care centers in Miagao, Iloilo

Abstract

The hands of 199 preschool children in Day Care Centers of Miag-ao, Iloilo were swabbed and examined for the presence of parasitic ova, specifically soil-transmitted parasites. Prevalence rates of parasitic ova were determined and tested for significant differences with variables that include age, sex, parent’s educational level, and location of the day care center of the preschoolers. <i>Ascaris</i> had a prevalence rate of 24.12% (48), <i>Enterobius</i> with 1.51% (3) and <i>Trichuris</i> with 1.01% (2). <i>Toxocara canis</i> had a 6.03% prevalence (12) in the hands of preschoolers.

Using the Chi-square test to test for differences, it was shown that there were no significant differences in the presence of parasitic ova in the hands among preschoolers with regards to age, sex, and parent’s educational level except for location of the day care center. There was a significant difference in the prevalence rate of parasitic ova in the hands of preschoolers in coastal areas and those in non-coastal areas. Preschoolers in the coastal areas had a higher prevalence rate (29.82%) compared to those in the non-coastal areas (16.47%).

With a sample of 121 stools from the same group of preschoolers, the study showed that there was no direct association between the presence of Ascaris ova in the hands and their presence in stools.