Abstract
This study, carried out in a rural community in Ogun state Nigeria, aims to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths, bacteria causing Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM), and their coinfection among school-aged participants. Formol-ether sedimentation technique was used to check for helminth eggs in stool samples. Ear swabs collected were cultured on chocolate, blood and MacConkey agar plates. CD4+T lymphocyte count was derived using a flow cytometre. Study participants were between 5 and 19 years old. Three hundred participants were sampled, 108 (36%) were infected with helminth parasites: Ascaris lumbricoides (28.7%), hookworm (6.7%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%). The prevalence of helminth infection between the sexes was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.497; P= 0.390), but statistically significant between the age groups (χ2 = 10.10; P=0.016). Mixed helminthic infections were found in only 3.3% of the study population. Seventeen participants (5.7%) were found to have CSOM. Bacteria isolated in the ear swabs were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Haemophilus influenzae. Only two percent (2%) of study population were co-infected with helminth and bacteria. Heavy intensity of helminths and heavy growth of bacteria was found in the coinfected when compared with single infected children. This study showed the presence of otitis media in the study area, and that helminthiasis might have an effect on its presentation. Efforts to control CSOM in the study site may need to consider the inclusion of mass deworming. Key words: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), helminth, bacteria, coinfection, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Highlights
Helminth infection is a major cause of disease burden among children in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa
We aimed to describe the impact of coinfection of helminth parasites and bacteria causing middle ear inflammation
There was no statistically significant difference between prevalence of helminth infection and the gender of the participants across all age groups but there was a significant difference between the prevalence of helminth infection and the age groups (Tables 2 and 3)
Summary
Helminth infection is a major cause of disease burden among children in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This burden of helminthic infestations is a direct consequence of acute shortage of health care facilities, lack of access to potable water and sanitation, unhygenic environmental conditions and poverty (Crompton, 2001). Of particular worldwide importance are the roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), and hookworms (Necator americanus or Ancylostoma duodenale) (Bethony et al, 2006) They are considered together because children in developing countries can be chronically infected with all three worms thereby causing such children to be malnourished with stunted growth, intellectual retardation and cognitive deficits (WHO, 2005). Microbiology cultures of ear discharge in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) often yield multiple organisms which are key etiological agents in the development of CSOM
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.