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Abstract In Egypt, intestinal parasitic infections continue to be a major public health problem especially among children. Although mortality from such infections is low, yet it leads to malnourishment and impairment in physical and mental development and causes more morbidity and more economic and socia1 deprivation. Institutionalized residents particularly orphans represent an important group. So much emphasis should be rightly placed on the protection of this susceptible group from parasitic infections. Therefore, the present work was carried out (from March 2000 to October 2000) to estimate the prevalence of intestinal’ parasitic infections among the residents of orphanages in Alexandria city and to investigate the environmental and personal factors that may atfect prevalence of such parasites. A sample of 221 residents (127 males and 94 females), their age range was 1 month-24 years comprising the residents of the six orphanages of Alexandria city was included in the present study. Rcsidents or the studied institutions were interviewed to collect personal data as name, age, sex and level of education. Check list sheet was designed to assess the general hygienic condition for every resident. A single fresh stool sample was obtained from each resident, preserved in formalin and examined using: Formol ether sedimentation and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques to detect the parasitic stages including coccidian parasites. Anal swab sample was collected from each child. aged 1-6 years for the detection of pin worm infections. Environmental study for six examined institutions included the followings: . Assessment of sanitary conditions as source of drinking water, refuse collection and disposal and presence of houseflies. Estimation of the degrees of natural light and grades of ventilation. Type and colour of the wall painting. Type of floors at different sites. .... Assessment of crowding index of bed rooms. . Examination of 24 sweeping samples from bed rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, playing places and isolation rooms. . Investigation of 192 door locker swabs from bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens and toilets. The results obtained are summarized in the followings: . Out of 221 residents, the overall rate of pathogenic intestinal parasites excluding E.vermicularis was found to be 28.5. |