Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths infections among school-aged children in Kurmi Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and helminthic load of Gastrointestinal Helminths Infections (GHIs) among school-aged children in Kurmi Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. A total of 600 stool samples from the children in six randomly selected communities were examined by direct smear method under microscope and formol-ether concentration technique. A structured questionnaire was prepared for this research work to assess the association of intestinal helminths infections with socio-noneconomic status of the children’s parents and other variables. The data collected was analyzed using x² test. Out of 600 stool sampled examined, 252 (42, 0%) were infected with intestinal helminths. Hookworm (10.8%) showed highest occurrence followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (9.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (6.5%), Schistosoma mansoni (5.6%), Trichuris trichiura (4.3%), Enterobius vermicularis (2.1%). Taenia spp. (1.8 %), and Hymenolepis nana (0.81%). Helmenthic Load revealed that 180(30.1%) of the subjects in all the communities had scanty (+) helminthic load, 51(8.5%) of the children had moderate (++) infections while 20(3.3%) had high (+++) infection. Out of the 42% infected cases, 226(37%) of the pupils were found to be infected with single helminthic infection, 20(3.38%) with double helminthic infection and 4(0.4%) with triple infections and 1(0.1%) quadruple infection. Such a relatively high prevalence rate of helminthic infection in the study area could be used as a base line for the concern bodies to lunch de-worming intervention campaigns.

Keywords: Prevalence; helminthic load; gastrointestinal helminths infections; hookworm; Ascaris lumbricoides.