Burden of intestinal helminths among patients attending General Hospital Wudil in Kano State north western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Infection with parasitic helminths is often recognized as one of the most important public health problems in tropical Africa.

Aim: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of intestinal helminths among rural and semi urban communities (with no treated pipe borne water) attending Wudil General Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.

Methods: Stool samples were collected from patients and processed using formol ether concentration technique.

Results: Out of the 200 stool samples examined, the overall intestinal helminthes prevalence was 138(69.0%). Of these Ancylostoma duodenale had the prevalence rate of 38(19.0%), Strongyloides stercoralis 22(11.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides 28(14.0%), Schistosoma mansoni 26(13.0%), and Trichuris trichiura 24(12.0%). On the basis of gender, males had the highest infestation of 84(60.9%) compared to females 54(39.1%). Infection across age groups revealed that age group of 10-19 had the highest prevalence of helminths 45(32.6%) followed by 20-29 with 33(23.9%) while the least was in the age group of 50-59 with 11(8.0%). Patients that had no toilet facilities (that use open space) were the most infected 123(89.1%), while patients that use closed water system in the semi urban communities had the minimum infection rate of 3(2.2%).

Conclusion: The study indicated very high occurrence of intestinal helminthiasis among the study population which stress the need for government efforts to promote and/ or sustain proper sanitation and good water supply.