A survey of parasites in primary school children in Dominica, West Indies

A study of Dominican school children aged four to twelve years showed that infection with gastrointestinal parasites was very common. Trichuris was found in the stools in 92% of the children, Ascaris in 38%, Necator in 11%, Giardia in 18% and E. histolytica in 1%. In spite of the high prevalence of parasites, the general health of the children studied was remarkably good, and only 18 of the 1000 children were found to have a haemoglobin level below 10 g/dl.