Current Issues of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

Curr Issues Pharm Med Sci., Vol. 35, No. 3, 133-136

Wiktoria Chodun-Wroblewska¹, 
Barbara Nieradko-Iwanicka²*, Janusz Andrzej Iwanicki³*

¹ Students' Scientific Association at The Chair and Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
² Chair and Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
³ Municipal Disability Evaluation Board, Lublin, Poland

  10.2478/cipms-2022-0025

​© 2022 Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonComercial-No Derivs licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/)

Abstract

Children need to play outdoors. It is a natural tendency for young children to put everything in their mouths. Hygienic condition of playgrounds is important for maintaining their health. Companion animals (dogs and cats) as well as wild animals can transmit parasites that cause zoonoses in humans. Such infections often affects children playing in sandpits and playgrounds. Sand samples taken from specific locations (sandboxes, playgrounds) can be tested for the presence of parasite eggs specific to humans and animals (Ascaris, Toxocara, Trichuris). They cause ascariasis, toxocarosis, trichurosis. Invasive eggs of the parasites due to the very thick, multi-layered egg shells are very resistant to the influence of climatic factors and to chemicals present in the environment. The only way to get rid of parasite eggs from locations where they endanger human health is to remove the top layer of sand or soil or completely replace the sand. However, this is a laborious and costly procedure.
The aim of the project was to examine samples from selected playgrounds in Lublin (Polnad) in terms of the presence of Ascaris, Toxocara, and Trichuris eggs.
Thirty five samples of sand and soil obtained from 7 playgrounds in Lublin were obtained in May 2022 and tested for the presence of Ascaris, Toxocara, and Trichuris eggs with flotation method. In none of the examined samples the parasite eggs were found. The tested playgrounds in Lublin are hygienic and safe from eggs of Ascaris, Toxocara, and Trichuris.

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Keywords

children, sand, Toxocara, Trichuris, Ascaris, health.