Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Children [Aged 5-15 Years] of Gurukul Madhyamic Vidhyalaya of Jatuwa, Biratnagar-18

Abstract

Chaotic condition of Jatuwa village of Biratnagar is as a consequence of illiteracy, ignorance and poverty of local people. A school based study was carried out to determine the prevalence rate of intestinal parasites and to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding intestinal parasites by means of structured questionnaire in children of age group 5-15 years of Gurukul Madhyamic Vidhyalaya of Jatuwa village of Biratnagar-18 in 2008. A total of 220 stool samples were collected and examined by direct smear technique. Out of 220 students, 45(20.5%) were found to be infected with one or more types of intestinal parasites. Among positive samples, prevalence rate in Yadav children was 19.86% and Non-Yadav children was 21.62%. The prevalence rate in male children was 21.77% and female children were 18.75%. The prevalence rate was approximately equal in age group 11-15 yrs (27.77%) and 5yrs (28.57%) followed by age group 6-10 yrs (13.79%). All above mentioned were found statistically insignificant. The percentage prevalence in total 220 stool samples, of helminthes, Ascaris lumbricoides( 8.64%), Trichuris trichiura (0.90%), Hymenolepis nana (2.27%) and hookworm (0.45%) while of protozoan parasites, G. lamblia (7.73%), E. histolytica (4.10%) and Cyclospora (0.45%). Out of 45 positive cases, 38(84.44%) were found with prevalence of single species infection, 5(11.11%) double species infection and 2(4.44%) with prevalence of triple species infection. As matter of survey analysis, it revealed that 23.88% were infected with intestinal parasites among non-vegetarian and 5% were infected with intestinal parasites among vegetarian which is statistically insignificant. The survey had also made clear that the intestinal parasitic infection was found to be maximum (25.28%) whose parents are farmer and minimum (7.14%) whose parents are service holder. Similarly, maximum (45%) infection was found in those children who used to defecate near water resource. It was found that the awareness towards intestinal parasites was very poor. Prevalence of parasitic infection was found only 12% among parasite aware children whereas 21.53 among un-aware children.