Quantitative assessment of Ascaris lumbricoides infection in school children from a slum in Visakhapatnam, south India.

An epidemiological study was conducted on 217 school children aged between 7-13 years, from Relliveedhi a slum in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, south India, during August 1993 to August 1994. The children belonged to a socioeconomically backward community-parental occupation being fishing or waged labor. Intensity and prevalence estimations for Ascaris lumbricoides were done indirectly by formalin-ethyl-acetate sedimentation technic and directly by worm expulsions following albendazole administration at a single oral dose of 400 mg/child. Prevalence rate was 73% while the intensity of infection ranged between low to moderate. Boys had severe infection than girls due to their outdoor activities and behavioral habits. Nine year old children had the highest prevalence rates. Mean Ascaris worm intensity was 2.2 (+/-1.91) with an over-dispersed distribution of the parasite in the host population. Reinfection study over a period of nine month showed that the prevalence rates exceeded the pre-intervention level but the intensity of infection was very low. Dual species intensity correlation between Ascaris and Trichuris was consistently strong.

Intestinal helminth infections among school children in Visakhapatnam.

A study was carried out between 1993-1994 to determine the prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminth infections among 217 primary school children in Relliveedhi, a slum area in Visakhapatnam. The children were between 7 to 13 years of age and belonged to lower socio-economic status. Stool samples collected were processed by modified formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique to determine ova counts (EPG). One hundred and seventy seven children were infected with one or more of the intestinal parasites viz. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm. The overall prevalence of infection was eighty two per cent. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common infection with a prevalence of 75% followed by T. trichiura (66%) and hookworm (9%). All infected children received a single dose of albendazole (400 mg/child). Single stool samples were examined over a period of nine months to study reinfection dynamics.

Re-infection estimation of soil-transmitted helminths among slum school children in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Prevalence and intensity study of soil-transmitted helminths was carried out in a primary municipal corporation school in Relliveedhi, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. All subjects (n = 217) belonged to low socio-economic status with an age distribution of 7-13 years. Reinfection study was estimated over a nine month period following treatment with albendazole administered at a single oral dose of 400 mg/child. Parasites identified were Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm. Post-treatment prevalence reached pre-intervention level but the intensity of infection remained appreciably low (p < 0.05).