Prevalence Of Intestinal Helminth Infections Among School Aged Children In Elele, South-South Nigeria

Authors

  • Ofoma Cornelius Amoke Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
  • A N C Amadi Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/

Keywords:

Children, helminths, Nigeria, parasites, prevalence

Abstract

A study on the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections, using stool  samples of 396 school children comprising of 198 each male and female  randomly selected from 50 households, was conducted in Elele, South South Nigeria, between March and June, 2013. Their basic information  like sex, age and drinking water source were collected using a self administered questionnaire. The prevalence of intestinal helminth  infection varied significantly among males (6.57%) and females (3.4%).  Prevalence also varied significantly among various age groups, with age  group 7-9 having highest infection of Trichuris trichiura (2.25%) while  age group 4-6 had higher prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and  Taenia sp. (1.65%). Children within age group 1-3 years had highest  prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides (2.38%) and finally children within  age group 10-12 were with the highest prevalence rate of hookworm  (1.96%). Similarly the people who drink stream water had higher  prevalence values i.e. 2.27, 3.03, 3.03 and 1.52% for S. stercoralis, A.  lumbricoides, Taenia sp. and hookworms, respectively. T. trichiura was  absent in people who drink stream water while those who drink Sachet  or table water had prevalence rate of 1.52%.  

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agbolade, O.M., Agu, N.C., Adesanya, O.O., Odejayi, A.O, Adigun, A.A, Adesanlu, E.B., Ogunleye, F.G., Sodimu, A.O., Adeshina, S.A., Bisiriyu, G.O., Omotoso, O.I. 2007. Intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis among school children in an urban center and some rural communities in southwest Nigeria. Korean Journal of Parasitology; 45: 233-238.

Ofoma Cornelius Amoke and A.N.C. Amadi

Agbolade, O.M., Akinboye, D.O. and Awolaja, A. 2004. Intestinal helminthiasis and urinary schistosomiasis in some villages of Ijebu North, Ogun State, Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 3: 206-209.

Albonico, M., Ramsan, M., Wright, V., Jape, K., Haji, H.J., Taylor, M., Savioli, L. and Bickle, Q. 2002. Soil-transmitted nematode infections and mebendazole treatment in Mafia Island school children. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 96: 717-726.

Angyo, L.A., Pam, C.D. and Szlachetba. R. 1996. Clinical patterns and outcome in children with acute severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. East African Medical Journal, 73: 823-826.

Brooker, S. and Michael, E. 2000. The potential of geographical information systems and remote sensing in the epidemiology and control of human helminth infections. Advances in Parasitology, 47: 245-287.

Chhabra, M.B. and Singla, L.D. 2009. Food-borne parasitic zoonoses in India: Review of recent reports of human infections. Journal of Veterinary Parasitology, 23: 103-110. Cheesbrough, M. 2004. District Laboratory Practices in Tropical Countries, Part 1. Cambridge University Press, New York, USA.

Chukwuma, M.C., Ekejindu, I.M., Agbakoba, N.R., Ezeagwuna, D.A, Anaghalu, I.C. and Nwosu, D.C. 2009. The prevalence and risk factors of Geohelminth infections among primary school children in Ebenebe Town, Anambra State, Nigeria. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 4: 211-215.

Ekpenyong, E.A. and Eyo, J.E. 2008. Prevalence of intestinal helminths infections among schooling children in tropical semi-urban communities. Animal Research International, 5: 804-810. Ekpo, U.F., Odoemene, S.N., Mafiana, C.F. and Sam-Wobo, S.O. 2008. Helminthiasis and hygiene conditions of schools in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria. PLOS Neglected Tropical Disease, 30: 146-150.

Mafiana, C.F., Sodipe, M.B. and Koleoso, B.I. 1998. Soil transmitted helminth parasites of humans in a city in southwestern Nigeria. Helminthologia, 35: 203-208.

Michael, E., Bundy, D.A., Hall, A., Savioli, L. and Montresor, A. 1997. This wormy world: Fifty years on the challenge of controlling common helminthiasis of humans today. Parasitology Today, 13: 1-2.

Ndamukong, K.J., Ayuk, M.A., Dinga, J.S., Akenji, T.N. and Ndiforchu, V.A. 2000. The pattern of soil-transmitted nematode infections in primary school children of the Kumba Health District, South-West Cameroon. African Journal of Health Science, 7: 103-106.

NPC. 2006. Final Result of 2006 Population Census of Nigeria. Rivers State, Nigeria. National Population Commission, Abuja, Nigeria.

Sufiyan, M.B., Sabitu, K. and Mande, A.T. 2011. Evaluation of the effectiveness of deworming and participatory hygiene education strategy in controlling anemia among children aged 6-15 years in Gadagau community, Giwa LGA, Kaduna, Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine, 10: 6-12.

Simon B., Archie C.A.C. and Don A.P.B. 2006. Global epidemiology, ecology and control of soil transmitted helminth infections. Advances in Parasitology, 62: 221-261.

Ugbomoiko, U.S, Dalumo, V., Ofoezie, I.E. and Obiezue, R.N. 2009. Socio-environmental factors and ascariasis infection among school-aged children in Ilobu, Osun State, Nigeria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 103: 223-228.

Widjana, D.P. and P. Sutisna, 2000. Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in the rural population of Bali, Indonesia. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 31: 454-459.

Published

2015-03-15

How to Cite

Prevalence Of Intestinal Helminth Infections Among School Aged Children In Elele, South-South Nigeria . (2015). Applied Biological Research, 17(1), 94–98. https://doi.org/10.48165/