In order to determine reported signs and symptoms that may predict an intestinal parasitic infection, 241 schoolchildren in western C&e d'Ivoire were interviewed with a simnle auestionnaire and their stool specimens were examined over several consecutive days. Special emihasis was placed on (i) assessing infections bv Entamoeba histolvticalE. disaar. Giardia duoaknalis and bv intestinal worms. (ii) lookinn for associationsU between these parasites, and '(iii) looking for associatibns between these 'parasites"and commonly perceived intestinal signs and symptoms. Complete questionnaire results, intestinal helminth infections derived from 4 Kato-Katz thick smears, and intestinal protozoa infections assessed on a single day by a formalin-ether concentration procedure were obtained from 209 children (87%). A logistic regression modelling approach showed ihat an infection with E. histolytica/E. dispar-was significantly associated with an Entamoeba coliinfection. However, for G. duodenalis, hookworm and Ascarts lumbrtcoides. no association was found between any of these parasites and other intestinal parasites. In a multivariate analysis reported diarrhoea was the only symptom positively associated with an E. histolytica/E. dispar infection (P = 0.028). Its diagnostic nerformance showed a low sensitivitv (28%), a high sneciflcitv (85%) and moderate positive and negative predictive values (52% and 67%, respectively). S&p&ingly, reported 'turninn stomach' was less often renorted bv children infected with G. duodenalis (borderline sianificance. P = 0.657). It is concluded that reported diarrhoea could be a symptom worth exploring further for the rapid identification of schoolchildren infected with E. histolytica/E. dkpar.