Intestinal Helminthiasis Burden among Primary School Children in Enugu Suburban, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: Intestinal helminthiasis is a municipal health crisis with high mortality in pre- school and school aged children and affects the general physiological and psychological growth of a child. The main objective of this work is to find out the prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminthasis in primary school Children. Methods: Samples of stool and blood were obtained from 557 pupils and were examined for the presence of intestinal helminths and anaemia respectively. The stool was examined using  Formol acetate concentration method and  helminth egg count was done using Stoll’s method. Heamoglobin concentration (Hb) was done using a portable haemocue 301 analyzer. Results: A total of  288(51.7%) children were infested with one or more  helminthes and 206 (37.0%) children were anaemic (haemoglobin < 11g/dl).  Ascaris lumbricoides had the highest prevalence 119(21.4%) of the intestinal helminth recorded while Strongyloides stercoralis was the least 8(1.4%). The percentage of pupils that had helminthic infection and  anaemia were 140(25.1%) and  this is statistically significant (p < 0.05). Pupils infested with hookworm had the highest prevalence of anaemia than pupil infected by other species. Conclusions: This study showed that intestinal helminth is still a public health concern in the study area. This suggests that there is still need for awareness on their existence and control measures to curb the menace.