JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Volume 244, Issue 22, 1980, Pages 2543-2544

Intestinal Parasites in Southeast-Asian Refugees: Prevalence in a Community of Laotians (Article)

Wiesenthal A.M.* , Nickels M.K. , Hashimoto K.G. , Endo T. , Ehrhard H.B.
  • a Field Services Division, Bureau of Epidemiology, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, United States
  • b Illinois Department of Public Health, Springfield, United States
  • c Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago, United States
  • d Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago, United States
  • e Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago, United States

Abstract

In response to public concerns, 165 Meo Laotians had stools screened for intestinal parasites by the Illinois Department of Public Health. One hundred twenty-nine had at least one pathogenic parasite detected. Hookworm was detected most frequently, followed by Giardia lamblia, Trichuris trichiura, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Hookworm and overall infection were more frequent in persons 4 years of age and older, while giardiasis, ascariasis, and trichuriasis were most common in the 4- to 14-year age group. Most infections were helminthic and of no public health consequence in the United States. However, giardiasis was seven times as prevalent in refugee children as in the general US population, posing a potential public health risk in child-care settings. © 1980 American Association All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

protozoon Giardia Laos Refugees Illinois Ancylostoma digestive system Humans import disease Adolescent Asian Americans male Ascaris female Infant Child, Preschool nematode diagnosis parasite prevalence Feces Trichuris Sex Factors Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943987105&doi=10.1001%2fjama.1980.03310220041024&partnerID=40&md5=de4c52e4a351d2d9239a8ecf43967e3a
DOI: 10.1001/jama.1980.03310220041024
ISSN: 00987484
Cited by: 20
Original Language: English