Pattern of intestinal parasites at open air defecation sites in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Abstract

The poor socio-economic status of street children leads to dangerous and unhealthy living environments. Also open defecation and regular contact with dogs, flies and contaminated soil, water, faeces, foods and fomites; increase their chance of infestation by intestinal protozoa and helminths. This study intends to found out the intestinal parasites among the stools collected from openly-defecating street children in KathmanduValley, Nepal. A total of 93 stool samples were collected in plastic vial with spoon and tight-fitting lid from 93 of street children who were defecating in the roadside and air-bridge in different locations of Kathmandu Valley from May 2008 to July 2008. Stool microscopy included examination by direct wet mount in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution and confirmation techniques used for oocysts of was Z-N (acid-fast) s taining, oculo- s tage micrometer and bisporulation assays. Analysis of the results show that majority of stool specimens were brown or pale yellow (63.4%), soft-formed (78.5%), without blood (96.8%), with mucus (62.4%) and without adult forms of helminths (96.8%). The entire stool specimen was positive for intestinal parasite, (prevalence of 100.0%). The intestinal parasites seen included: spp, spp, Hookworm, , and The intensity of the intestinal parasitic infection was recorded in percentage such as 1.0% for single, 7.1% for double, 51.2% for triple, 30.2% for quadruple and 10.5% for quintuple. It is therefore concluded that a program should be conducted to treat intestinal parasites in street children living in this environment. Government should implement strict laws and orders against indiscriminate defecation and support this by provision of public toilet.

Keywords: Intestinal parasites; stool; street children; Kathmandu.