Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

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Incidence of Parasitic Infestations in Rural School Children of Age 5-12 Years at Davangere District, Karnataka


Affiliations
1 Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
2 Department of Physiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Microbiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka, India
4 Department of Microbiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere-577005, Karnataka, India
     

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Background: Worm infestation is one of the major cause of childhood malnutrition, anaemia, physical and mental growth and psycho-social problems. The study aims to compare the prevalence of parasitic infestation and optimization of number of stool samples for screening of parasitic infestation among school children of age 5-12 years at rural areas of Davangere district.

Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted during the month of June2009 to October 2010. Five stool samples on five consecutive weekends were collected from each of the 474 children. Stools were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites.

Results: Out of the 474 samples, 237 were positive by the end of 5th week stool sample. Nearly 89.9% of the parasites were identified in the first and second stool samples, 92.8% were identified by the 3rd stool sample, 95.4% were identified in the 4th stool sample and virtually all the parasites seen in the study were identified in the fifth stool samples. The prevalence of worm infestation is 50%. Ascaris lumbricoides (18.5%) and Ancylostoma duodenale (16.3%) were most common parasites. Majority of the children who were affected belong to early age groups and girls were more affected than boys.

Conclusion: From this study we conclude that 5th week stool sample detects virtually all the intestinal parasites and this clinically benefits the children compared to the single stool sample used for screening purposes.


Keywords

Stool Samples, Worm Infestation, Rural Children
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  • Incidence of Parasitic Infestations in Rural School Children of Age 5-12 Years at Davangere District, Karnataka

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Authors

Uma Kiran
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
Suneeta Kalasurmath
Department of Physiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka, India
K. G. Basavarajappa
Department of Microbiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka, India
C. S. VinodKumar
Department of Microbiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere-577005, Karnataka, India

Abstract


Background: Worm infestation is one of the major cause of childhood malnutrition, anaemia, physical and mental growth and psycho-social problems. The study aims to compare the prevalence of parasitic infestation and optimization of number of stool samples for screening of parasitic infestation among school children of age 5-12 years at rural areas of Davangere district.

Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted during the month of June2009 to October 2010. Five stool samples on five consecutive weekends were collected from each of the 474 children. Stools were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites.

Results: Out of the 474 samples, 237 were positive by the end of 5th week stool sample. Nearly 89.9% of the parasites were identified in the first and second stool samples, 92.8% were identified by the 3rd stool sample, 95.4% were identified in the 4th stool sample and virtually all the parasites seen in the study were identified in the fifth stool samples. The prevalence of worm infestation is 50%. Ascaris lumbricoides (18.5%) and Ancylostoma duodenale (16.3%) were most common parasites. Majority of the children who were affected belong to early age groups and girls were more affected than boys.

Conclusion: From this study we conclude that 5th week stool sample detects virtually all the intestinal parasites and this clinically benefits the children compared to the single stool sample used for screening purposes.


Keywords


Stool Samples, Worm Infestation, Rural Children

References