Background and Objective: Parasitic infections are major public health challenges in children, particularly in group settings such as kindergartens, where conditions for transmission are more favorable. Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) is one of the most common causes of intestinal infections in this age group. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Enterobius infection and associated factors in kindergartens across Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, articles published up to the end of January 2025 were retrieved from the following databases: Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, Irandoc, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus using the keywords: “Enterobiasis,” “Enterobius vermicularis,” “Oxyuriasis,” “Oxyur,” “Intestinal infection,” “Intestinal parasite,” “Prevalence,” “Children,” “Elementary schools,” “Preschool centers,” “Kindergarten,” and “Iran.” Out of a total of 1116 identified articles, 707 were excluded after reviewing the title and abstract, and 333 were removed due to duplication. Ultimately, 76 articles were selected for full-text evaluation, from which 24 studies related to the prevalence of Enterobius in Iranian kindergartens were included in the final analysis.
Results: Of the 24 studies reviewed, 23 were conducted using questionnaires, and one study utilized interviews. The total sample size across these studies was 13.567 children, and the average prevalence of Enterobius infection was estimated at 14.90 percentage.
Conclusion: Despite relative improvements in hygiene conditions, the prevalence of Enterobius infection in some kindergartens remains concerning. The role of active transmission pathways and their association with children's demographic factors highlights the importance of timely identification and intervention. Implementing targeted educational programs for parents and kindergarten staff, along with coordinated preventive measures, is essential to control the spread of this parasite.
