Which symptom is indicative of enterobiasis in children?

Intense perianal itching is a classic symptom indicative of enterobiasis, which is caused by an infestation of Enterobius vermicularis, commonly known as pinworms. This itching occurs due to the female pinworms migrating to the anal area to lay their eggs, typically at night. The movement of the worms can create significant irritation of the sensitive skin surrounding the anus, leading to discomfort and a strong urge to scratch, which is often most pronounced at night and can disrupt a child's sleep.

In contrast, symptoms such as fever, foul-smelling stools, and decreased appetite are not typical features of enterobiasis. Fever may indicate an underlying infection but is not directly related to pinworm infection, while foul-smelling stools could suggest other gastrointestinal issues. Decreased appetite can occur for several reasons, including other illnesses or stress, but again is not a distinguishing symptom of enterobiasis. Therefore, the intense perianal itching is the hallmark symptom that effectively identifies this parasitic condition in children.