Abstract
This survey was undertaken to determine the relative incidence of the protozoan infections among white children under varying states of health and environment. The subjects were, therefore, taken from 3 distinct groups; the first consisted of 164 inmates of 2 orphanages, the second of 156 patients of 2 hospitals for convalescents and the third of 42 children suffering from variety of acute illnesses. The total was 362 children.
A comparative study of the incidence of protozoan infection as affected by the general state of health showed no significant differences among these groups. In general, the incidence of infection was found to be lowest in the third group (sick children) and the highest among the healthy children in one of the orphanages. This result seems to indicate that environmental conditions play important rôle in the transmission of protozoan infections.
Of the 362 children examined, in 120 cases (33.09%) the infection was limited to one protozoan species; in 37 cases (10.22%) a double infection was found; and in 11 cases (3.02%) there was a triple infection. The incidence of Giardia lamblia was the highest, other protozoa following in order of frequency Endamoeba coli, Chilomastix mesnili, Endolimax nana, Endamoeba histolytica, Iodamoeba williamsi and Trichomonas hominis. In the majority of mixed infections, Giardia lamblia was associated with either one or 2 other protozoa. As compared with the surveys conducted elsewhere, the present study revealed one of the highest incidences reported.
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