Helminthic Infections in School Children in Aba

Abstract

Helminthic infection is worldwide. Recent studies have shown the impact of intestinal nemtodes on the nutritional status and cognitive development of infected children. Poor environmental hygiene perpetuates helminthiasis. The environmental status of Aba is very poor and this constitutes a serious public health problem. To assess the degree of this public health nuisance, fresh stool samples from randomly selected school children aged between 5 and 16 years were examined with the microscopes for the common helminthes: Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris Trichuria. Haemoglobin estimation was done on each subject who was interviewed for other parameters. The mean age was 10.7 + 2.3 years. Seventy-three pupils (48.6%) had stool positive for either single or mixed infections. For single infection: Hookworm 20%, Ascaris 85: Tuchuris Trichurai 6% mixed infections; Hookwarm and Trichuris 4%, Hookworm and Ascaris 10.7%. The mean haemoglobin concentration was 10.9 + 1.9 gm/dl. Fifty per cent of those with haemoglobin concentration 7.1 gm/dl and below had Hookworm infection. Type of toilet facility, parents' occupation had a relationship with the frequency of nematode infection. Helminthic infection still remains an important public health problem moreso in Aba where environmental sanitation is very poor. The rate of helminthic infection observed ranks comparatively higher with that of other areas in Nigeria.


Jnl of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol.2 2001: 43-45