Ecological Factors Affecting the Prevalence of Some Parasitic Infections among Elementary School Children in a Village in West Alexandria

Abstract

Parasitology today is not only ruled by morphological and systematic investigations as before, but attention has been focussed upon the ecology of parasitic cycles, the population biology of parasites and the behavioral aspects of parasite transmission.

Each individual parasite is highly influenced by a group of ecological factors which control its survival and transmission. These factors differ from one parasite to the other according to the stages of development and life cycle of each parasite. Generally speaking, these factors should be looked upon from three aspects, human aspect, socioeconomic aspect and environmental aspect.

The most vulnerable group for parasitic diseases are school children. Their increased activities, their lack of inhibition and self control, and their poor hygienic habits make them the most exposed group to parasitic infections.

Schools are the major socializing environment at which children spend a long time of their lives. Therefore, healthy school sanitary conditions are very essential for protecting children against infections generally and parasitic infections specifically. Parasites are not solely influenced by different ecological factors, but also their intermediate hosts. Snails as an intermediate host should be

focussed upon, because their presence and survival means the survival of ., the dependant parasites.