A cross sectional study of intestinal helminthiasis among school pupils was undertaken in three primary schools in Ilie in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of helminthic infections. The relationship between intestinal helminths and anthropometric indices and the factors that could favour the infection were also studied. Faecal samples from three hundred and four (304) randomly selected out of the four hundred and seven (407) school children in the study area were collected and analysed with the semi-quantitative Kato Katz technique and concentrated method. The intensity of infection was classified into light, moderate or high according to World Health Organisation (WHO) thresholds. The overall prevalence rate was 52.0% while five species of intestinal helminths were identified. Ascaris lumbricoides (36.2%) was the most common, followed by Hookworm (10.5%), Schistosoma mansoni (4%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.7%). Multiple helminthic infection were recorded with Ascaris-Hookworm (6.58%) having the highest prevalence among the children. Female (56.6%) were more infected than male (46.4%) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0019). Seventeen percent (17%) of the children were below the third percentile for weight (wasted) while fourteen percent (14%) were below the third percentile for height (stunted). There was a relationship between intensity of infection and wasting since there were fewer underweight pupils (13%) with normal stool than those moderately infected (35%) (P<0.05). There was statistically significant association between type of latrine use and prevalence of infection; and also between water treatment and infection. Periodic surveillance of school children for intestinal helminthiasis should be part of the public health activities while periodic deworming programme should be done routinely as this would reduce intensity of intestinal worm infection among school children.

Introduction: Information regarding the resistance pattern of Candida species in developing countries is limited. Most sensitivity studies were performed on few isolates and/or few antifungal agents using the disc diffusion method because of limited resources. Methods and Material: We evaluated six antifungal agents against Candida isolates recovered from the vagina of apparently healthy pregnant women using the E-test method. Results: One hundred and seventy Candida isolates recovered from 500 participants were identified and subjected to an antifungal susceptibility test. Candida albicans(53.5%) was the most common specie identified, followed by Candida glabrata(14.1%). C. albicans was mostly resistant to itraconazole (31.9%), with MIC 50 and 90 of 0.038 mg/L and 6 mg/L, respectively. Resistance to 5-fluorocytosine, fluconazole, and voriconazole was not observed for C. albicans. Caspofungin resistance was observed in 3 C. albicansand 1 C. glabrata isolates. Resistance to amphotericin B (50%) and itraconazole (100%) were the highest for C. glabrata. Flucytosine and voriconazole resistance was not observed in this study. Conclusion: The observed species diversity and the presence of C. albicans resistance to 3 of the 6 antifungal agents tested justify the need for a regular surveillance of the sensitivity pattern to antifungal drugs in Nigeria.

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This study was set out to find out the pattern of antimalarial drug use in a Nigerian rural community following the aggressive price subsidy of Artemisinin Combination Therapy(ACT) recently embarked upon by Roll Back Malaria partners through Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm). Methods Questioners were administered to 310 adult members of the community with the most recent malaria episodes so as to find out about the drugs used and some of the factors associated with the choice of the drug. Result Although the overall use of ACT (13.55%) in this community was about 4 times higher than what it used to be, Chloroquine 123(39.62%) and sulphadozine/pyrimathamine 120(38.71%) were the mostly used antimalarial agents. Choice of drug used was significantly associated with perception of efficacy and price among other factors. Respondents liked the price of ACT (33.3%) most, CQ was the drug most liked in terms of efficacy (44.2%) while SP was the drug most liked in terms of lack of side effect (38.9%), taste (61.6%) and convenience (35.7%).(P= 0.001) Conclusion In addition to sustaining the current price control, there is a need to continuously monitor and effectively regulate the quality of the ACTs in circulation so as to gain the confidence of both the prescribers and the end users regarding efficacy and adherence to ACTs. This will help to safeguard the huge investment in ACT subsidy by the Roll Back Malaria partners.

Background-Malaria remains a threat to millions of children despite the recent advances recorded in the fight against the disease which remain the 3 rd largest killer of children below the age of 5 years in endemic regions. Drug resistant plasmodium species continues to limit the fight against malaria, while the spread of fake and substandard antimalarial drugs has been recognized as a major problem across Africa because of its association with drug resistant parasite. We aim to find out the prescription pattern of chloroquine among nurses in South-West Nigeria and perception of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).