Syrian Refugee Children and Intestinal Parasitoses - Experience of the Moroccan Field Hospital in the Zaatari Camp, Jordan

This prospective study, conducted at the Moroccan field hospital in the Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan, established under the high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among Syrian refugee children. Between June and November 2014, stool samples from 372 children under 15 years were analyzed using standard parasitological techniques. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 63.71%, peaking at 67.3% among children aged 4-10 years. Protozoa were predominant (59.32%), with Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica being the most common species. Helminthic infections accounted for 30.37% of cases, mainly due to Enterobius vermicularis. Polyparasitism was observed in three children. These findings underscore the precarious living conditions in refugee camps and highlight the necessity for effective public health interventions.