INTESTINAL PARASITES IN REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS ENTERING THE STOCKHOLM AREA, 1987-88 - EVALUATION OF ROUTINE STOOL SCREENING

In order to evaluate the results of routine screening for intestinal p arasites, the medical records of 4592 refugees and asylum seekers arri ving in the Stockholm area from January 1987 to December 1988 were rev iewed. 3938/4592 (86%) delivered stool specimens for examination and i ntestinal parasites were demonstrated in 651/3938(17%). Protozoa, main ly Giardia intestinalis, were found in 403/3938 (10%) and helminths, m ainly nematodes, in 277/3938 (7%). Intestinal parasites were most freq uently recovered in subjects coming from the Indian subcontinent/South east Asia and Africa (infection rates 39% and 25%, respectively). Exte nsive variations in the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection in various ethnic groups (range 4%-39%) were largely attributable to var iations in prevalence of helminthic infections (range 2%-34%). Origin from the tropics or subtropics as well as low age, male sex, rural reg ion of domicile before/during exile and short length of stay in Sweden were related to intestinal parasitic infection. Lack of data on morbi dity in untreated asymptomatic carriers, limited risks for transmissio n of the recovered parasites in Sweden as well: as the expenses for sc reening indicate a need for reconsideration of the present praxis of m ass screening in favour of a selective screening of high-risk groups b ased on country of origin and age.