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Prevalence of intestinal parasites and association with symptoms in Southeast Asian refugees
Author(s) -
Buchwald D.,
Lam M.,
Hooton T. M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1995.tb00662.x
Subject(s) - refugee , southeast asia , association (psychology) , medicine , environmental health , geography , ethnology , psychology , history , archaeology , psychotherapist
SUMMARY We prospectively evaluated 201 Southeast Asian refugees in a primary care clinic for intestinal parasites and their association with gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients completed a standardized screening questionnaire which elicited information on demographic factors and eight gastrointestinal symptoms, and stools were collected for ova and parasite examination. Although 89% had been living in the U.S.A. for more than 1 year, intestinal parasites were found in 37 (18%) patients and pathogenic parasites in 23 (11%). Among these 37 patients with intestinal parasites, seven (19%) had multiple parasites. Seven pathogenic and four nonpathogenic species were identified. Hookworm was most prevalent (4 5%), followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (2 5%) and Clonorchis sinensis (2%). Cambodians had the highest prevalence (11%) and Vietnamese and highland Laotians the lowest (0%). Intestinal parasitosis was not associated with gender or duration of residence in the U.S.A. Individual symptoms had a low positive predictive value for the presence of pathogenic parasites. This suggests that even years after immigration a substantial number of Southeast Asian refugees may benefit from screening and treatment for intestinal parasites.