Changing Pattern of Parasitic Infection by Year in Pediatric Age Group

Kim, Dong Soo; Lee, Ki Young; Yun, Duk Jin; Soh, Chin Thak

Abstract

To contract the parasitic infection, the environmental factor is more important although the host defense mechanism must be considered. Though it is important to consider the physical conditions, social and economic conditions are most important factors. Now it has been reported that the parasitic infection rate has been on the decrease along with improvement of social and economic conditions. Parasitologic manifestation in the pediatric age group was studied. The subjects of the study were 7,426(male 4,765, female 2,661) in-patients of the Pediatric Department of Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from Jan. 1968 to Dec. 1978, and the results were as follows: The annual incidence of helminthic infection decreased steadily from 44.7% in 1968, to 5.6% in 1978. Infantile helminthic infection was low. However, it was detected as early as 4 months of age, and therefter, helminthic infection rate rose steadily along with the age. This means that the parasitic infection correlated with the increasingly active behavior of children playing outdoors in contaminated soil. Trichocephalus showed a higher incidence than Ascaris, and the infection of Trichocephalus rose along with the age. However that of Ascaris rose until 5 year of age, and thereafter, persisted by plateaus in pattern. Any characterstic pattern, as in the case of helminths was not seen in protozoan infection, having the incidence of 4.3% in male and 4.2% in female. Pediatric parasitologic infection has been on the decrease compared to 11 years ago, and the cause of this may be considered to be phenomenal economic growth, generalized use of chemical fertilizer, rising level of public education, improvement of hygienic concepts and living status, and development of effective chemotherapeutics. However, despite this phenomenal economic growth our nation's efforts to maintain high health standards still remains unsatisfactory. Especially the parasitic infections have been a major problem of public health importance. Considering that the parasitic infection is connected with public health and is the criteria to evaluate the development of nations, the government must take care to control parasitic infection.