ENTEROBIUS-VERMICULARIS AND FINGER SUCKING IN YOUNG SWEDISH CHILDREN

Objective - To study the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis and its association with finger sucking in young Swedish children. Design - C ross-sectional survey with a questionnaire for symptoms of infestation with Enterobius vermicularis, and the children's habit of finger suck ing (including fingernail biting). Perianal tape-test for identificati on of eggs of Enterobius vermicularis. Setting - Primary care, day-car e centres, and schools in a Swedish middle-sized town (approx. 80 000 inhabitants). Participants - 172 children of both sexes, 4-10 years ol d. Main outcome measures - The prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis a nd its association with finger sucking. Results - 21% of the children were symptom-free carriers of Enterobius vermicularis, and finger suck ing was strongly associated with a positive tape-test (p=0.01). Conclu sion - More children than previously known seemed to be symptom-free c arriers of Enterobius vermicularis. Finger sucking should be considere d when treating infested children and especially those with relapsing symptoms.