Prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in children with chronic neurological disorders in Benin city, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: It is envisaged that the care for the child with chronic neurological disorder (CND) compared with his apparently healthy counter-part may be sub-optimal, predisposing him to increase disease morbidities including intestinal helminthiasis. To evaluate this hypothesis, a comparative cross sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence, intensity, and specie-specific prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in children with CND such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and mental retardation seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City between November 2008 and April 2009. 

Subjects and Methods: Fresh stool samples from 155 children with CND and from 155 age   and sex matched apparently healthy nursery and primary school children in Benin City, Edo State were analysed using the Kato-Katz technique for the detection of ova of helminths.

Results: The prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in children with CND was 31.0% compared with 19.4% found among the apparently healthy controls (p = 0.03). This prevalence increased with increasing age in both subjects and comparative group. Intensity of infections in both groups was light. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Ancylostoma duedenale were the intestinal helminths isolated in both subjects and control groups. A. lumbricoides alone had the highest specie-specific prevalence in both the subjects (20.0%) and comparative groups (15.5%). Mixed infection was found only among the children with CND.

Conclusion: Intestinal helminthiasis is common and more prevalent in children with CND than in healthy children. It is recommended that regular de-worming be incorporated into the routine care of children with CND.

Key words: chronic neurological disorders, helminthiasis, intestinal helminths, intensity