Abstract
Background Infection with intestinal nematodes is of major public health concern worldwide, and school-age children and pregnant women are the principal victims. The present study was undertaken to provide baseline information on the status of gastrointestinal nematodes among school-age children in Bamendjou. Material and Methods. Four hundred and ninety-three (493) stool samples were collected from school children in six (6) different schools (two nursery, two primary, and two secondary schools). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of stool samples were done using the simple flotation and McMaster count techniques, respectively. Results Among the 493 participants, 57 (11.6%) stool samples were positive for at least one nematode species. Four nematodes are as follows: Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., hookworms, and Strongyloides sp. with respective prevalence and intensities of infection of 6.1% and 2260 ± 6377.98, 3.4% and 223.53 ± 264.054, 3.0% and 416.67 ± 427.061, and 0.2% and 200 ± 00, respectively. The data on the prevalence of nematodes with respect to sex showed that females (13.1%) were more infected than males (12.2%) (P > 0.05). Furthermore, with respect to age, older children were more infected than younger ones. Cases of double parasitism were encountered with a prevalence of 1.2%. According to the fecal concentration of eggs, 61.90% of the infections were light. Risk factors such as drinking water from streams and not wearing shoes all the time were significant with infections. Conclusion The relatively low overall prevalence (11.6%) obtained in this study shows that the national deworming campaign is proving effective, though a more holistic approach is required to prevent infections from bouncing back after such campaigns.
Highlights
Intestinal parasitic diseases constitute a major problem in public health in tropical and subtropical zones where climatic factors such as humidity, temperature, lack of hygiene, poverty, demographic conditions, and socio-political instability favor their development [1]
The present study reveals that the health status of school going children is limited due to the relatively poor hygiene and sanitary conditions
This study has shown that intestinal nematodes are prevalent in varying intensities among school children in the community of Bamendjou
Summary
Intestinal parasitic diseases constitute a major problem in public health in tropical and subtropical zones where climatic factors such as humidity, temperature, lack of hygiene, poverty, demographic conditions, and socio-political instability favor their development [1]. According to Brooker et al [4], 5.6 million people were infected with A. lumbricoides, 6.5 million with T. trichiura, and 2.6 million with hookworms in Cameroon. These infections are among the Journal of Parasitology Research most common and neglected public health problems in developing countries including Cameroon. Infection with intestinal nematodes is of major public health concern worldwide, and school-age children and pregnant women are the principal victims. The data on the prevalence of nematodes with respect to sex showed that females (13.1%) were more infected than males (12.2%) (P > 0:05). The relatively low overall prevalence (11.6%) obtained in this study shows that the national deworming campaign is proving effective, though a more holistic approach is required to prevent infections from bouncing back after such campaigns
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