The Value of Routine Screening for Intestinal Parasites.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Eveland, Laverne K.; Kenney, Michael; Yermakov, Valentin
- Source
- American Journal of Public Health; Dec1975, Vol. 65 Issue 12, p1326-1327, 2p
- Subject
- Feces examination
Microbiology
Feces
Excretion
Intestinal diseases
Intestinal infections
Parasites
Pathogenic microorganisms
Entamoeba
United States
- Language
- ISSN
- 00900036
The article examines the stool specimens of patients with intestinal parasites in the U.S. The percentage of parasitic infections was greater in specimens from patients with clinical symptoms related to parasitosis. However, infections with pathogenic parasites were also detected among patients not suspected of harboring parasites. In fact, the presence of even nonpathogenic amebae in the stools indicates a reservoir of infection and a low standard of hygiene among the population. The most important conclusion that can be drawn from the high percentage of parasitic infections in patients not suspected of harboring parasites is that good clinical criteria for requesting stool examination for parasitic information are not always available.