INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH CUTANEOUS FUNGAL INFECTION AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS AMONG TSEDA SCHOOL CHILDREN, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are the major cause and contributory factors for malnutrition. In Ethiopia, there isno report on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in association with cutaneous fungal infections and nutritionalstatus among school children.Objective: To assess the magnitude and association of intestinal parasitic infections with cutaneous fungal infections and nutritional status among school children. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on the school children of Tseda town, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 870 eligible students enrolled and their sociodemographic and anthropometric variables were collected using a structured questionnaire. Clinical investigation was done for fungal infections. Stool specimen was collected and examined microscopically, following formol-ether concentration technique. Three anthropometric indices height for age, weight for age, and weight for height were expressed as differences from the mean in standard deviation units or Z-scores.Result: Out of 870 students, 43.0% were male and 57% female. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitoses was 72.8%.Single and multiple infections were seen in 35.1% and 37.7% children, respectively. The most common parasites identified wereAscaris lumbricoides (49.9%), Schistosomia mansoni (29.5%), and Hookworm (15.3%). Cutaneous fungal infection was observed in 12.1% of the children. Tinea capitis was the predominate fungus (6.2%). Children who had cutaneous fungal infections were more likely to have one or more intestinal parasites than those who did not (P<0.01). The proportion of childrenwith underweight, stunting and wasting was 11.4%, 10.9%, and 2.9%, respectively.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that intestinal parasitoses and cutaneous fungal infections were high among school children in the area. It also appeared that intestinal parasitic infections were associated with cutaneous fungal infections. Moderate and childhood malnutrition was also common. Our result called for appropriate intervention measures to reduce childhood morbidity from parasitic and fungal infections, and malnutrition.