Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection in School Going Children in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background:The public health impact of parasitic infection has been consistently underestimated in the past, but there is now a general consensus that diseases caused by intestinal parasites represent an important public health problem, especially children. Recent studies suggest that even moderate intensity of infection may have adverse effects on growth, iron deficiency anemia and cognitive function, practically for children of school age. Objective: Aim of the present study was to determine the intestinal parasitic infection in school going children. Materials and Methods:The stool samples were collected from different municipal school in and around Amalapuram according to the standard procedures between June 2006 to August 2006. All the stool samples were examined by the direct microscopic examination and by the formalin-ether concentration methods. Analysis of the data was carried out by using Epi info software. Results: A total 208 stool specimen were collected. The mean age group was 8.8 ± 2.11. 133 (63.9%) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites. 95 (71.4%) of the students were infected with single parasite, 38 (28.6%) with two or more parasites. The most common was Entamoeba histolytica (E.histolytica) with 41 (30.8%) single and 26 (19.54%) with multiple infections. The second most common was Giardia intestinalis (G.intestinalis) with 25 (18.8%) single and 25 (18.8%) with multiple infections. The third one was Entamoeba coli (E.coli) with 15 (11.3%) single and 17 (12.78%) with multiple infections. E.histolytica and G.intestinalis were the most commonly found parasite in multiple infections. 1.5% of Ascaris lumbricoides, 5.3% Hookworm, 0.8% Enterobius vermicularis and 0.8% of Trichuris trichuria were found in the stool sample. Conclusions: Intestinal parasitic infection is an important public health problem in Andhra Pradesh, India. Rural residence, mother education less than primary school and no hand wash with soap after toilets were the significant risk factors. Interventions including health education on personal hygiene, appropriate water management like boiling and use of latrines to the school children and to the parents.The public health impact of parasitic infection has been consistently underestimated in the past, but there is now a general consensus that diseases caused by intestinal parasites represent an important public health problem, especially children. Recent studies suggest that even moderate intensity of infection may have adverse effects on growth, iron deficiency anemia and cognitive function, practically for children of school age.

Prevalence of parasitic Infections and its Effect on the Health Status of Primary School Children

“…Also this study is in agreement with Ullah et al, (2014) (36) , who reported that the percentage of parasitic infection among school children was (73.87%). Another study conducted by Ashok et al, (2013) (37) , showed high prevalence of parasitic infection 63.9%. However, our result was higher than several studies done in Egypt which include a study done in Damietta Governorate by Mohammad et al, (2012) (38) , a study done in Al-Azhar and Assiut university hospitals by Bauomy et al, (2010) (34) and a study done in Tanta, Gharbia Governorate by Ahmed (2013) (39) , which they reported that about one third and about one quarter (30.7%, 38.5% and 22.43%) of school pupils respectively had intestinal parasitic infections.…”

“…Infection with intestinal parasites has known to cause iron deficiency anemia, growth retardation in children and other physical and mental health problems. Furthermore, chronic intestinal parasitic infections have become the subject of speculation and investigation in relation to the spreading and severity of other infectious diseases of viral origin, tuberculosis and malaria (19)(20)(21) . Although treatment with the current anti-helminthic can significantly reduce parasite burdens, chemotherapy alone is unlikely to prevent reoccurring infections with GI nematodes.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites at a Tertiary Care Centre at Moradabad, Western Uttar Pradesh, India: A One-Year Observational Study

“…[4,17,18,19,20,21] This study showed ten cases (9.80%) of mixed parasitic infection, which was in concordance with study at Bihar. [7] Few studies showed high prevalence of mixed parasitic infection, [28] while others showed low prevalence. [4,20] …”

Intestinal parasitic infections and prevalence of anaemia among tribal school going children: a one year study

“…However the findings of our study were in accordance with the findings of Tsuyuoka et al, in Brazil and Okyay et al, in Turkey, where the prevalence among school children was found to be 42% and 31.8%, respectively. 4,5 In India, a wide variation in the prevalence of parasitic infection is noted in different studies from different regions was found to be as low as 11.4% in a study conducted by Kotian [6][7][8][9] These wide differences are due to heterogeneity of study populations, socio demographic characters and various study locations.…”