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  • Title: [Intestinal parasites in African asylum seekers: prevalence and risk factors].
    Author: Westerhuis JB, Mank TG.
    Journal: Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd; 2002 Aug 10; 146(32):1497-501. PubMed ID: 12198830.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of potentially pathogenic intestinal parasites in asylum seekers coming from a highly endemic area, and to identify groups of asylum seekers from Africa with a high risk of an intestinal parasitic infestation which is potentially harmful of their own health or that of those in their vicinity. DESIGN: Prospective. METHOD: In the period January 1996-May 1999, 956 asylum seekers from Africa were checked for intestinal parasites by means of a stool examination within one month of arriving in the Netherlands. Independent variables for data analysis were sex, age and area of origin. RESULTS: Pathogenic intestinal parasites were found in 40.6% of the 956 African asylum seekers coming from areas south and east of the Sahara. Double-infection was found in 9.5% and triple-infection in 0.9% of the study population. The most common pathogenic parasite was Trichuris trichiura (13.6%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (8.8%), hookworms (7.8%), Schistosoma (7.0%) and Giardia lamblia (5.0%). G. lamblia was the most commonly found potentially pathogenic parasite in children less than 13 years old (19.0%). In the population from Western Africa, 15.6% had a hookworm and 12.8% a Schistosoma. Both these helminthic infestations were three times as prevalent in men as in women. CONCLUSION: Sex, age and area of origin were important indicators for the species of parasite. On the basis of this, risk groups can be selected for screening for potentially pathogenic intestinal parasites.
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