Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites amongst School Children in Unwana Community, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of intestinal parasites among primary school pupils aged between 0 and 15years in Unwana, Afikpo Ebonyi State was investigated. The formalin-ether concentration technique was used to examine the stool
samples of 300 school children. Out of the 300 stool samples examined, Ascaris lumbricoides had an overall prevalence of 237(79%), hookworm 245(81.6%), Trichuris trichuria 7(2.3%) and Entamoeba species 165(55%).
Male pupils were more affected than the females. Children between the ages of  6 and 10 years were the most infested by A. lumbricoides while those between the ages of 11and 15years were most infested by  hookworm, Trichuris trichuria and Entamoeba species. There was a high prevalence of intestinal parasites infestation among the  children    examined  in  this  study  and  this  calls  for  urgent  need  to  improve  good  personal  hygiene  and environmental sanitation amongst school children in rural communities.

Keywords:  Intestinal  parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides,  hookworm,  Trichuris trichuria, Entamoeba species, school pupils, Afikpo.