ABSTRACT

In this study, the distribution of intestinal parasites in a total of 133 students, of whom 60 (45.1%) were girls and 73 (54.9%), boys, in the 1-6 age group was investigated in Special Nisan Day Nursery and ADU Day Nursery from the center of Aydın and Yunus Emre Primary School’s kindergarten in an area with a lower socioeconomic status . For this reason stool and cellophane tape preparations were investigated. The stool samples were examined using the native Lugol technique and the formol ethyl acetate concentration method. Only one parasite was detected in 14 (10.5%) children, more than one parasite were detected in 3 (2.3%) children. Thus, one or more parasites were detected in 17 (12.8%) children out of a total of 133 children. Giardia intestinalis in 13 (9.8%) and Enterobius vermicularis in 4 (3%) were the most prevalent parasites. It is the first study of intestinal parasites in day nursery and kindergarten children in Aydın. This study showed that intestinal parasites are still an important public health problem in our city and it is necessary to make a more extensional investigation and to educate the public especially in lower socio economic regions.