Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Elementary Schools Children at Dilla Town and its Peripheral Villages

Abstract

Background and study aim: There is no information established about the diversity of human intestinal parasites at Dilla Town & its peripheral villages. The existence of various species of intestinal parasites in tropical and subtropical regions with moist and warm climate is expected to be high. Dilla Town and its peripheral villages is found in the tropics. The objective of this study was to establish a statistically verified status about the diversity of human pathogenic intestinal parasites at Dilla Town and its peripheral villages. Patients and methods: Stools samples of 710 student children were collected in 0.85% saline solution from elementary schools and observed under microscope in the laboratory of parasitology. Microphoto-graphs of the diagnostic stages of the parasites found were taken with a digital camera from the fields of vision of the microscope. Results: Out of 710 student children examined 257,225,200,170,107,61,40,9,8, 8 and 4 were positive, the corresponding infection rates being 36%, 32%, 28%, 24%, 15%, 9%, 6%, 1%, 1%, 1%, and 0.6% of Ascaris lumbricoides, Entameba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Hookworms, Schistosoma mansoni,Taenia saginata,Enterobius verm icularis,Hymenolepis nana, and Fasciola hepatica respectively. The infected children were given curative treatment. Conclusion: Preventive measures against parasitic infections must be implemented by focusing on:  Blocking transmission of infective stages,  Delivering public health education,  Providing the public with clean water supply for domestic use & drinking,  Improving personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, and  Identifying and treating infected individuals to prevent the spread of infections.