Detection of Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Children Under Six Years of Age in Benghazi City, Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58987/rxyjpq26Keywords:
Intestinal parasites, Children under six years, Benghazi, Abdominal discomfortAbstract
Parasitic infections remain a significant issue in the history of public health for certain communities or globally. In developing country, parasitic diseases still represent a major public health challenge, particularly for children. This research was performed to detect intestinal parasites in children under six years in Benghazi City, Libya; where 114 fecal samples were collected and examined. The gross examinations of the stools were made for the presence of worms and segments, while the microscopic examination of the stool was performed using direct wet smears in normal saline and Lugol’s iodine. The results showed that infection rate was relatively high; around 56.14% were infected with intestinal parasite. The most common parasites were Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar (22.80%), followed by Giardia lamblia (12.28%), Enterobius vermicularis (11.40%), Hymenolepis nana (9.64%). The study indicates high rate of parasitic infections among children, which necessitates health education for families and children regarding regular hand washing with soap and water, the use of toilet paper, washing fruits and vegetables, and drinks from unsafe sources.
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