ABSTRACT

In this study, the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in children in the 0-7 age group in the Hatay Society for the Protection of Children and teenagers in the 7-17 age group in the Hatay Orphanage for boys and Hatay Orphanage for girls was investigated. The cellophane tape technique was used in the diagnosis of E. vermicularis. The cellophane tape technique was applied to a total of 70 children (30 boys, 40 girls) in the Hatay Society for the Protection of Children, 60 boys in Hatay Orphanage for boys and 55 girls in Hatay Orphanage for girls. During examination of the cellophane tapes, infection was found in 50 children (71.4%) in Hatay Society for the Protection of Children, 5 children (0.08%) in Hatay Orphanage for boys and 8 children (0.14%) in Hatay Orphanage for girls. E. vermicularis infection was found in 100% of the boys and 50% of the girls in Hatay Society for the Protection of Children. In conclusion, E. vermicularis appears to be an important national health problem in our country and it particularly causes problems in primary school children. Children in nursery schools, in kindergartens, in primary schools and in the Society for the Protection of Children constitute a risk group for E. vermicularis infection. This study is the only study which has been done in decades for determination of the prevalence of E .vermicularis in the Hatay region. Because of this, it is very important.