Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among children in two villages in Lao PDR.

The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among 128 children under 15 years old in two villages in Khammouane Province, southeastern Lao PDR, was investigated. Overall prevalence of helminth infection was 77.3%; the prevalence was 64.8% in children under 6 years, 88.5% in those aged 6-10 years and 81.8% in the age group above 11 years. The prevalent helminths found in the subjects were Ascaris lumbricoides (48.4%), Trichuris trichiura (43.8%), hookworm (37.5%) and Opisthorchis viverrini (37.5%). Intestinal protozoan infection was demonstrated in 14.1%; Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent (8.6%) protozoan species.