Frequency of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Working Children in Tehran, Iran

Background: Parasites infection is one of the public health issues among children all over the world. The limited available data indicates that working children often suffer from poor health. Objectives: In this study, the frequency of intestinal parasitic infection in working children related to Sobh-e Rooyesh School was evaluated for the first time in Tehran, Iran. Methods: Fresh stool samples were collected from 175 working children associated with Sobh-e Rooyesh School in Tehran and transferred to Research Center of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, which then examined by the wet mount examination with Phosphate-buffered saline and formalin ether concentration and agar plate culture. The trichrome staining was performed using stool samples conserved in Phosphate-buffered saline. Results: The results showed that in general the frequency of parasitic infection was 77/175 (44%). The frequency of Blastocystis hominis as the most common parasites was (32.6%) followed by (9.1%) related to Giardia lamblia and (8%) samples were positive for Entamoeba coli. Frequency of helminthic infection was 3/175 (1.7%) including 2/175 (1.1%) Hymenolepis nana and 1/175 (0.57%) Ascaris lumbricoides. Conclusions: The frequency of intestinal parasitic infections was relatively high among working children in Tehran. Frequency of protozoan infection was more than that of helminth infection. It is suggested that additionally necessary treatment, health education and personal hygiene should be provided to prevent transmission.