ABSTRACT

Parasitic infections especially affect those children in critical phases of growing and development. They can lead to malnutrition, malabsorption, mental and social adaptation problems, and critical illnesses that hinder productivity. This is an important health problem in Turkey, and intestinal parasites are quite frequently found in boarding school and care centers for children. The aim of this study was to discover and treat the parasitological agents found in the students of the Primary School for Deaf Students. A total of 117 fecal specimens and material from the perianal region (using the cellophane tape method) were collected from deaf students and examined during 2003-2004 school season. Also the students were scanned for adult head lice and their eggs. As a result, 53 (45.3%) children with intestinal parasites and 6 (5.1%) with head lice were detected in the study. The patients were treated and informed about means of protection. The same children were examined again after six months: Only 24 (20.5%) children had intestinal parasites and 2 (1.7%), head lice. Thus, the decrease in parasitic infections was found to be significant (qui-square test in dependent samples P<0.05). Therefore it was concluded that the schools should be scanned for intestinal parasites and head lice, and both treatment and training in the subject should be given the necessary importance.

Keywords: Deaf students, intestinal parasites, head lice