Korean J Parasitol.  2018 Jun;56(3):291-294. 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.3.291.

Infections of Soil-Transmitted Helminth in Refugees from North Korea

• Lee YI
• Seo M
• Kim SB

• KMID: 2416361
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2018.56.3.291

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are now no longer public health problems in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), but their status are unavailable in the residents of North Korea (NK) despite the expectation of large scale traffic and future reunification of the Korean Peninsula. A total of 20 female refugees from NK who had been admitted to the Division of Gastroenterology, Dankook University Hospital, were subjected in this study. Among them, 15 refugees were examined by the colonoscopy and 10 ones were examined with the stool examination (formalin-ether sedimentation). Both diagnostic methods were commonly adopted in 5 patients. Eggs of Trichuris trichiura were detected in 7 out of 10 refugees in the stool examination. In the colonoscopy, T. trichiura worms were found in 6 (40.0%) out of 15 refugees. Total 9 (45.0%) peoples were confirmed to be infected with human whipworms. Additionally, 1 case of clonorchiasis was diagnosed in the stool examination and a worm of Ascaris lumbricoides was discovered from a trichuriasis case. These findings suggested that STH is highly prevalent in NO, in which living conditions are not so good in the aspect of general hygiene and medical care.

Keyword

Trichuris trichiura; Clonorchis sinensis; Ascaris lumbricoides; helminth; refugees; colonoscopy; stool examination; North Korea

MeSH Terms

Ascaris lumbricoides
Clonorchiasis
Clonorchis sinensis
Colonoscopy
Democratic People's Republic of Korea*
Eggs
Female
Gastroenterology
Helminthiasis
Helminths*
Humans
Hygiene
Ovum
Public Health
Refugees*
Republic of Korea
Social Conditions
Trichuriasis
Trichuris