Prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in Gaza City, Gaza Strip.

A total of 489 stool specimens were collected from school children aged 6-11 years. The target area is overcrowded, with improper sewage disposal system and low socioeconomic standards. A questionnaire was designed to include relevant informations. Each stool specimen was processed by the direct smear microscopy, zinc sulphate flotation technique and formol-ether sedimentation technique. The present study revealed an overall prevalence at 27.6%. Six parasites were detected. Giardia lamblia (62.2%) was the most frequent species found, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (20.1%) then, Entamoeba histolytica (13.3%). The prevalence of these parasites was found to be related to age, socioeconomic and sanitation conditions. Most of the other parasitic infections were of mild intensity. There is an urgent need to correct the present situation by improving the living conditions, providing facilities for the population such as modern housing, proper sewage disposal system, health education and execution of survey programs for parasites to treat the infected persons.