Intestinal Parasitic Infestations Among Children In an
Orphanage in Pathum Thani Province
WILAI SAKSIRISAMPANT, MSc*, SURANG NUCHPRA YOON, MD, PhD*,
VIROJ WIWANITKIT, MD**, SUTIN YENTHAKAM, BSc*,
***
ANCHALEE AMPA VA SIRI, BA
Affiliation : * Department of Parasitology,
** Department of Laborlatory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkom University, Bangkok 10330,
*** Office of Prevention and Resolution of Woman and Child Trafficking, Department of Social Development and
Welfare, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand.
AbstractInfection caused by intestinal parasites is still a common health problem especially in children
from developing countries. Orphans are a group of underprivileged population in society. To evaluate
the intestinal parasitic infections in children in an orphanage in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, stool
samples were collected during a cross-sectional study in April 2001. Examination for intestinal para
sites were performed by using simple smear, formalin-ether concentration, Boeck and Drbohlav's
Locke-Egg-Serum (LES) medium culture and special staining (modified acid-fast and modified
trichrome) techniques. A total of 106 pre-school orphans (60 males and 46 females), aged 10.0-82.0
months, were recruited for the study. There were 86 individuals (81.1% ), 45 males and 41 females,
infected with at least one parasite. Interestingly, most of the parasites identified were protozoa. Blasto
cystis hominis was found at the highest prevalence (45.2%). The infections caused by Giardia Iamblia
was 37.7 per cent and Entamoeba histolytica was 3.7 per cent. Other non-pathogenic protozoa found
were Trichomonas hominis (39.6%), Entamoeba coli (18.8%), and Endolimax nana (3.7%). The only
one case of helminth parasite detected was Strongyloides stercora/is (0.9%). The sensitivity for detec
tion of B. hominis and T. hominis was increased by the LES culture technique. No history of diarrhea
symptoms were recorded among these orphans. However, during the investigation, stools of all
infected cases were noted for six characteristics including formed, soft, loose, mucous, loose-watery
and watery.
The present study emphasized the problems of protozoan infections among these orphans.
Health educations as well as routine surveillance is necessary in order to control the infections.
Keywords : Intestinal Parasite, Orphanange Children, Orphanage
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