Investigation of the Prevalence of Enterobius Vermicularis Infection and Risk Factors among Kindergartens in Hamadan, West of Iran, in 2019

Abstract

Background and Objective: Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) is one of the most common intestinal nematodes in the world and is found in all developed and developing communities. Children are the most vulnerable group in this regard. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of E. vermicularis infection amongst kindergartens in Hamadan, Iran, in 2019. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 98 active kindergartens in Hamadan, Iran. A total of 18 kindergartens were selected, followed by the random selection of a number of children from each kindergarten. The adhesive cello-tape is a standard method for examining this disease, and mothers were trained to use this method. Subsequently, the sampling was conducted by this method. Results: Out of 451 children from 18 kindergartens, the overall prevalence of E. vermicularis infection was obtained at 0.4% (n=2). The mean age of the children in this study was 5.45±0.93 years. Since the prevalence of the disease was not significant, the results were not analyzed. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the prevalence of this disease has decreased over a decade in Hamadan, Iran; however, this infection still exists. Therefore, specific measures should be taken to control the transmission cycle of E. vermicularis.