Study of Intestinal Parasitosis among School Going Children in Pokhara, Nepal

Abstract

The study was carried out in order to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in school-going children in schools located in Pokhara, Nepal from November 2011 to January 2012. A total number of 100 stool samples were collected from children of ages 3 to 15 years. A questionnaire including the factors predisposing to parasitosis was filled up and parasitic examination was carried out by direct wet mount examination and concentration method using standard formal ether concentration technique. The prevalence rate was found to be 15%. Prevalence of parasitic infection was higher in girls (16%) than in boys (14%) and age group 8-12 years were found to be more suffering (17.3%) than other age groups. The occurrence of parasitic infection in symptomatic children was found to be 40% and 10% in asymptomatic children. The symptoms were found statistically significant with infestation of parasites. Intestinal infection was highest in Dalit students (20%) compared to other caste students. Prevalence of parasitic infection in other caste was 15% in Brahman, 9.5% in Newar and 9% in Chhetri. Among 15 positive cases 5 types of parasites were detected. The results showed Giardia lamblia to be the most common parasite. Occurrence of other intestinal parasites was Entamoeba histolytica (26.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (26.6%), Trichuris trichura (6.6%) and Hook worm (6.6%). The study concluded that intestinal parasitosis is still public health problem among school going children of Pokhara valley especially among Dalit students.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Associated Factors Among HAART Initiated Children Attending at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The occurrence of parasitic infection was lower in male children (18.8%) than their female counterparts (26.6%) and the difference was statistically significant (AOR=0.45; 95% CI=0.22-0.90; P<0.01). This finding was in agreement with the study done by Abossie and Seid, 33 and Khadka et al 34 reported that the prevalence of parasitic infection was higher in girls than in boys regardless of significant association. But this in contrast to a study done by Gebretsadik et al 35 This is most likely to be influenced by cultural values that parents who give more priorities to the health of their sons than their daughters and females may come into contact with more contaminated water and food than males, which may increase the risk of exposure to parasites.…”

Intestinal parasitic infection among rural schoolchildren in Taiz, Yemen: School-based assessment of the prevalence and associated risk factors

“…Oppositely, hookworms and S. stercoralis were not found among schoolchildren in the current study. This is similar to reports from previous studies (Al-Qobati et al, 2012; bin Mohanna et al, 2014 ; MB, 2017 ; Singh Khadka et al, 2019 ; Sitotaw et al, 2020 ). However, hookworms and S. stercoralis have low prevalence rates in Ibb among schoolchildren, reporting 1.2 % and 0.8 % prevalence rates, respectively ( Alsubaie et al, 2016 ).…”

Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and associated risk factors among primary school children in Kandahar, Afghanistan: A cross-sectional analytical study

“…The A . lumbricoides as the most common STH has also been reported in studies from Nepal (26.6%) [ 35 ], India (69.6%) [ 33 ], and Nigeria (75.6%) [ 36 ]. The reason behind the A .…”

“…The most prevalent STH in our study was A. lumbricoides (29.4%). The A. lumbricoides as the most common STH has also been reported in studies from Nepal (26.6%) [35], India (69.6%) [33], and Nigeria (75.6%) [36]. The reason behind the A. lumbricoides predominance could be associated to the long life of the female worm and has a fecundity rate of approximately 134,000-360,000 eggs per day for nearly 300 days.…”