Testing sand from selected playgrounds in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland for eggs of nematodes at the time of massive migration of people from Ukraine to these countries – a pilot study

Abstract

Nematodes are invertebrates that inhabit the water and soil environment. Numerous nematodes are parasites of plants, animals and humans, especially children. Among the parasitic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases caused by nematodes are very common: eneterobiasis, ascariasis, and toxocarosis. From February 2022, we observe an intensive migration of people from Ukraine to the European Union countries: mainly to Poland (4.5 million) and to a lesser extent to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. They are mostly women with children. In places where they find shelter, they try to provide children with the best possible conditions for their development. Hence the authors’ interest in hygienic conditions in the playgrounds of the European Union countries bordering Ukraine.

Keywords

• health risk
• geohelminths
• playground