الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The investigation was carried out in an elementary and primary school children . The population studied consisted of apparently healthy 4-to12-years-old children attending one school. A total of 500 children, 280 males (56%) and 220 females (44%) children from that school participated in the investigation. The total children were from the same locality, with the same socioeconomic environment . The parents were first informed about the life cycle of the parasite and the rout of infection. The questionnaire requested : 1. Name , date of birth , and sex of the child . 2. Putative risk factors for infection , i.e. the presence of dogs and cats in the home , contact with animals outside the home , and use of public playgrounds . 3. Allergic complaints , i.e.does the child suffer from asthma / recurrent bronchitis ?. Does the child react with allergic symptoms during or after contact with animals ?. Does the child suffer from eczema ? 4. Whether the child had ever been hospitalized with asthma ? School staff and parents were informed in writing about the nature of the Toxocara infection and of the study . The plasma was collected and stored at –20OC until used for Toxocara serology. Toxocara seroprevalence had not been investigated previously in that school. Children undergo history taking , physical examination : general and chest examination . Routine investigation : Chest x-ray and complete blood count mainly to detect children with eosinophilia ?10 % ( ? 400 / mm3 ) who will be tested for Toxocara IgG and to detect other cell abnormalities . |