Study on Parasitic Infections Among Children of sukumbasi Basti of kathmandu Valley

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections still constitutes one of the major public health problems in Nepal.Present study was done to find out the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in children(aged <16years) of Sukumbasi(people living without land ownership) Basti (area), Ward No-34,SinamangalinKathmandu Valley. A total of 279 stool samples were collectedfrom August 2008to December 2008. The samples were collected inclean,dryandscrew capped plastic containerandwere subjected to macroscopic examination for adult parasites and/or segment of parasites.Samples fixed in 10% formal-saline and parasites were examined microscopically afterconcentration byformal ethersedimentation technique.Overall parasite positive ratewas 43.3%with no significant difference in two genders (Boys: 48.3%, Girls: 37.5%)(p=0.07). Thepercentage of monoparasitism (80.1%) were higher than multiparasitism (19.8%).Altogether 11species of parasites were detected of them. Giardia lambliawas most common followed byEntamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura and others. Younger children (aged ≤ 10) hadmarginally higher positive rate (45.4%) than older children (40.8%) (p=0.44).Prevalence ofparasitic infection ratewas higher in family size > 5 (50.0%) than≤ 5 (40.0%) (P=0.1).Positiverate was higher inTibeto-Burman(55.0%) and the least in Indo-Aryan(25.4%)(p=0.01).Theparasitic prevalence rate was higher among children not having toilet (62.1%) compared withchildren having toilet (41.2%) in home. Children drinking water fromkuwa(shallow well) hadmarginally lower prevalence rate (38.6%) than who used tap water (45.0%). The higher infectionrate (52.5%) was observed in children belonging to labour family and the least in the businessfamily (28.1%).Children takinganti-parasitic drug in last six months had low positive rate(25.4%) thanothers(48.2%) (p=0.002).Results showed that nearly half of the children in thisarea had intestinal parasitosis and suggests periodic deworming as well as sanitary hygienicpractices.Key words:Giardia lamblia, Intestinal parasites,Sukumbasichildren,Trichuris trichiura.