All issues > Volume 18(11); 1975

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1975;18(11):808-812. Published online November 30, 1975.

Prevalance of Clonorchis Sinensis and Nutritional Status of Children in an Endemic Area

Dong Min Lee¹, Byung Joo Chung¹, Jung Pyo Chung¹, Dong Sup Han¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine Kyungpook National University Taegu, Korea

Abstract

A study was required to evaluate the recent prevalence of clonorchiasis among the children in an endemic area and to determine the effects of Clonorchis infection on the nutritional status of the children in that area. Five hundred and twenty-three children in Daehap meon, Chang Yeong county, Kyungnam province, less than 1 to 19 years of age, with almost equal male and female distribution, were tested as follows; formalin-ether stool examination and StolFs egg counts; anthropemetric measurements (height, weight, and mid-arm circumference) and urine urobilinogen examination. The prevalence of Clonorchis Sinensis among the children, based on the formalin-ether sedimentation technique, was 21. 6 per cent. The rate for the 0 to 6 age group was found to be relatively high (16.0%). The infection was initially established at the 3 years of age with. an average of 22. 2 per cent. The intensity of infection, expressed in eggs per form o£ the feces examined, varied from: 400 to 4, 800, and almost all of the children were found to be mild infection. The authropemetric measurements and urine urobilinogen examinations revealed no differences between the children proved to be infected with Clonorchis Sinensis and non-infected controls.

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