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- Title
Intestinal helminthes and protozoan infections among children of Chechen refugees in Poland.
- Authors
Dąbrowiecki, Zbigniew; Korzeniewski, Krzysztof; Morawiec, Bartosz; Dąbrowiecka, Małgorzata; Olszański, Romuald
- Abstract
Objective This article investigates the prevalence of intestinal parasitic diseases occurring among children of Chechen refugees residing in Poland. Material and Methods The material subjected to analysis was fecal specimens collected from From May to July 2005, 426 patients of Chechen nationality aged 1 to 18, residing in 14 temporary centers located in the territory of 4 Polish provinces. Stool specimens were collected at three consequent times and were analyzed for the detection of parasitic diseases. The testing methods applied were direct preparation in Lugol's solution, sedimentation procedures, decantation procedures in distilled water and also flotation procedures. Results In total 160 cases of infestations with parasites of the digestive tract were diagnosed in 144 patients of all the examined Chechen children (percentage of the infected 33.8%). In most cases there were simple infestations (128, 30%). Complex infestations were diagnosed in 16 cases (3.8%). Giardia intestinalis was the prevailing causative factor (97 cases, 22.8% of the examined population). Also, cosmopolitan helminthiases were diagnosed: Strongyloides stercoralis (29 cases, 6.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (24 cases, 5.6%), Enterobius vermicularis (6 cases, 1.4%). Moreover, 2 cases of Entamoeba histolytica (0.5%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.5%) each were diagnosed. Conclusions Parasitic diseases occurring among refugees in temporary reception centers in Poland are not subjected to compulsory treatment. This is mainly due to the high rotation of refugees in the Polish settlements as well as the parents' unwillingness to agree to have their children treated, which undoubtedly results from their ignorance of existing health hazards. Owing to the frequent rotation of large refugee populations and the inevitable reality of unrestricted departures from temporary centers, there exists an increased risk for the occurrence of parasitic diseases with epidemic character among the local people.
- Subjects
POLAND; PROTOZOAN diseases; HEALTH of refugees; INTESTINAL diseases; FECES; MICROBIOLOGY; GIARDIA lamblia; HEALTH risk assessment; DISEASES
- Publication
Experimental Medicine, 2009, Vol 1, Issue 1, p14
- ISSN
1791-9967
- Publication type
Article