Three hundred thirty-nine migrant worker women and children were screened by single stool examination for intestinal parasites. Infection occurred in 34.2%. Giardia lamblia and Trichuris trichiura were the most common pathogens; Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana were the most common commensals. Infants under 1 year of age were free of infection. Children between 2 and 5 years old and women between 25 and 35 years old had the highest prevalence. Significantly more Haitians were infected than Mexican-Americans or American blacks. Of ten symptoms, only abdominal pain and gas correlated significantly with infection. This migrant population has a greater prevalence of intestinal parasites than the general American public. Screening by stool examination may be beneficial to diminish the reservoir of infection. © 1986, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

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cestode protozoon Racial Stocks human priority journal geographic distribution Epidemiologic Methods Mexico Hispanic Americans United States Haiti digestive system Adolescent giardia lamblia female Infant Child, Preschool Endolimax nana Entamoeba coli nematode Agricultural Workers' Diseases diagnosis Support, Non-U.S. Gov't adult parasite prevalence Feces Trichuris Sex Factors Age Factors Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic Delaware Maryland Transients and Migrants intestine parasite Middle Age Child