Intestinal parasites in a migrant farmworker population

Arch Intern Med. 1986 Mar;146(3):513-5.

Abstract

Three hundred thirty-nine migrant worker women and children were screened by single stool examination for intestinal parasites. Infection occurred in 34.2%. Giardia lamblia and Trichuris trichiura were the most common pathogens; Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana were the most common commensals. Infants under 1 year of age were free of infection. Children between 2 and 5 years old and women between 25 and 35 years old had the highest prevalence. Significantly more Haitians were infected than Mexican-Americans or American blacks. Of ten symptoms, only abdominal pain and gas correlated significantly with infection. This migrant population has a greater prevalence of intestinal parasites than the general American public. Screening by stool examination may be beneficial to diminish the reservoir of infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / diagnosis
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Delaware
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Feces / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Haiti
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology*
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / physiopathology
  • Maryland
  • Mexico
  • Middle Aged
  • Racial Groups
  • Sex Factors
  • Transients and Migrants*