Intestinal helminthiasis among school children in Ilie, Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria

A cross sectional study of intestinal helminthiasis among school pupils was undertaken in three primary schools in Ilie in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of helminthic infections. The relationship between intestinal helminths and anthropometric indices and the factors that could favour the infection were also studied. Faecal samples from three hundred and four (304) randomly selected out of the four hundred and seven (407) school children in the study area were collected and analysed with the semi-quantitative Kato Katz technique and concentrated method. The intensity of infection was classified into light; moderate or high according to World Health Organisation (WHO) thresholds. The overall prevalence rate was 52.0 while five species of intestinal helminths were identified. Ascaris lumbricoides (36.2) was the most common; followed by Hookworm (10.5); Schistosoma mansoni (4); Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7) and Hymenolepis nana (0.7). Multiple helminthic infection were recorded with Ascaris -Hookworm (6.58) having the highest prevalence among the children. Female (56.6) were more infected than male (46.4) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0019). Seventeen percent (17) of the children were below the third percentile for weight (wasted) while fourteen percent (14) were below the third percentile for height (stunted). There was a relationship between intensity of infection and wasting since there were fewer underweight pupils (13) with normal stool than those moderately infected (35) (P0.05). There was statistically significant association between type of latrine use and prevalence of infection; and also between water treatment and infection. Periodic surveillance of school children for intestinal helminthiasis should be part of the public health activities while periodic deworming programme should be done routinely as this would reduce intensity of intestinal worm infection among school children

Prevalence of Intestinal Worm Infections among Primary School Children in Nairobi City; Kenya

Objective: The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of total; single and multiple intestinal worm infections among the primary school children in Nairobi City. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used to determine the status of intestinal worm infections whose subjects were drawn from eight city administrative divisions. Proportional random sampling method to select forty five (45) schools out of 320 public; private and non-formal schools was used. Using the school enrolment register for standard 3 and 4; fifty (50) pupils per school were selected to participate in the study. Quantitative data from the study subjects were collected by use of a structured questionnaire. In addition; stool specimens were collected from each study subject and examined by Kato-Katz laboratory method. Results: The four intestinal worms investigated constituted a total prevalence of 12.9. This prevalence was found to be lower than that in two other previous studies. A. lumbricoides had the highest prevalence and S. mansoni had the lowest. Prevalence of single worm infections constituted 8.6of the total prevalence. Differences in prevalence between males and females were observed only with respect to T. trichiura and hookworm species. Fourteen to sixteen (14-16) and 11-13 years of age groups had the highest total prevalence of 47and 30.6respectively. Differences in prevalence were not found among the school categories with exception of T. trichiura infections. Conclusion: Prevalence of total; single and multi- ple infections showed a downward trend when compared to the previous studies with Ascaris lumbricoides persisting with the highest prevalence

Geophagy as a Risk Factor for Helminth Infections in Pregnant Women in Lusaka; Zambia

It has been reported that geophagy is closely associated with helminthic diseases (1; 2; 3) and it has been especially linked to Ascaris and Trichuris infections among pregnant women (4). Hitherto proof of existence of viable infective ova in geophageal material has been anecdotal. This study was undertaken to determine the possible direct role of geophagy in helminthiases of pregnant women. Eighty-five pregnant women between the ages of 15 and 44 years of age were recruited into the study in order to determined the prevalence of geophagy among pregnant women resident in high a density and low income areas of Lusaka. The study showed that 31;8of the pregnant women interviewed practised geophagy at the time of the study; and that 71had a history of deliberate ingestion of soil. The preferences for the soil types were ranked as clay; termite mounds from tree trunks; and soft stone. Some respondents reported a preference for smoked; roasted or baked clay soils. Perceived benefits of geophagy included diminished craving when they ate soil ( 35.2); prevention of vomiting and nausea ( 32.4); and others ingested soil for the taste (32.4). Most women who were interviewed (91.8) were aware of possible health risks involved in geophagy such as constipation; heartburn; anemia; coughing; infections with worms; and abdominal discomfort. This study sought to recover and identify helminth ova from a total 3.15Kg. Submitted or collected soil types ingested by the women in the study. No ova was recovered from the soil samples by both the sedimentation and Zinc Sulphate; as well as saturated sodium chloride floatation techniques. These techniques reliably yielded Ascaris; Schistosome; and hookworm ova and Strongyloides larvae in spiked control specimens. Notably; Ascaris lumbricoides; and Trichuris trichiura ova require moisture to survive and embryonate. The soils ingested by the respondents were dried; some of which are roasted; backed or smoked before ingestion and thus rendering them unsuitable for the survival of ova; let alone the support of embryonated ova which are the infectious stages. This study has demonstrated that no ova were recovered from any of the soil types preferred by the pregnant women; and as such geophagy was an unlikely risk factor for geohelminth infections. Other explanations for the high helminth infection rates among pregnant women recorded in the literature must be sought; such as pica; poor hygiene; and unsanitary environments

Intestinal helminth infections at Zeghie; Ethiopia; with emphasis on schistosomiasis mansoni

A total of 460 stool specimens were examined by Kato thick smear technique to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni and other helminth infections among people living in Zeghie town; Northwest Ethiopia. The most prevalent infections were schistosomiasis; ascariasis; and trichuriasis. The infection rates among school children for Schistosoma mansoni; Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris triciura were 69.7 per cent; 77.7 per cent and 64.7 per cent; respectively. The respective infection rates of these helminths among the residents were 53.1 per cent; 60.6 per cent and 50 per cent. The prevalence of schistosomiasis appeared to be higher for males than for females. The high prevalence of infection observed for these helminths in the present study clearly indicates the need for timely control measures

Prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminth infections from three communities in Sierra Leone

An epidemiological survey in September 1991 investigated the prevalence (per cent) and intensity (epg) of soil-transmitted helminth infections in three communities (Rowollon; Kroo Bay and Foria); Sierra Leone. Evidence was found for infections with ascaris lumbricoides; hookworm (probably necator americanus); trichuris trichiura; strongyloides stercoralis and schistosoma mansoni; using a modified kato-katz technique

Etude epidemiologique des helminthiases intestinales (necatorose; ascaridiose; tricocephalose) dans la vallee de la Kadei (Cameroun)

Les examens coprologiques avec numerotation des oeufs dans les selles; pratiques dans les villages de Boden; Zimbi et colomines situes dans la vallee de la Kadei ou un barrage va etre construit; permettent d'evaluer les prevalences et les charges parasitaires de trois nematodoses intestinales; la necatorose; l'ascaridiose et la tricocephalose; tres repandues dans la region. Ces affections; et en particulier la necatorose; sont plus frequentes chez les femmes que chez les hommes et leurs prevalences sont plus elevees a Boden et a Zimbi en plaine que sur la colline de Colomines. Il est possible que la mise en eau de la retenue; en faisant remonter le niveau de la nappe phreatique; favorise la transmission par le sol de ces affections; notamment a Boden qui sera situe juste au bord du lac

Intestinal helminth infections in children under 5 years old from Moyamba District Southern Province; Sierra Leone

An epidemiological survey was carried out in May 1990 to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections in children (0-5years) living in the Moyamba District; Southern Province; Sierra Leone. On the basis of nematode eggs and larvae observed during microscopic examination of stools samples obtained from 305 children; evidence for infections with the following species of helminth (per cent prevalence) was obtained : ascaris lumbricoides (28.2); necator americanus (19.3); trichuris trichiura (10.8); strongyloides fuellborni (8.9); strongyloides stercoralis (4.3) and enterobious vermicularis (0.7)