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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

DOI

10.3906/sag-1208-86

Abstract

To evaluate the amount of intestinal parasite infections over a 10-year period in the Gaza Strip. Materials and methods: Data from the Epidemiology Department, Ministry of Health were collected and analyzed statistically. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was monitored and studied for the period 1998-2007. Results: The present study shows results including the records of 471,688 patients (all ages) who had every provided 1 stool specimen to the laboratories of primary health care centers in one of the 5 governorates of the Gaza Strip. It was found that 116,261 specimens were positive for intestinal parasites, representing an overall prevalence of 24.6%. Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia were the most frequently detected intestinal parasites; there is a clear variation in the prevalence of intestinal parasites due to season. Conclusion: Intestinal parasites still constitute a health problem and there were fluctuations in the prevalence from 1998 to 2007. It is recommended that there is a need for health authorities to review health records periodically and examination of stool specimens by one method should be reviewed.

Keywords

Parasites, trend, prevalence, health records, Gaza

First Page

652

Last Page

659

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