Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Two Groups of Students in a Semi-urban Town in Nigeria

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are still an important public health problem in developing countries of the world even though they tend to receive lesser attention than bacterial and viral diseases. No published information on the comparative studies contrasting prevalence rates between primary school students and undergraduate students in this area is available. This study was therefore aimed at determining the rates of infection in the two groups of students in Ekpoma, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240) stool specimens were collected from students (120 primary school pupils and 120 university students) residing in Ekpoma, and examined for presence of intestinal parasites. Each stool sample was examined macroscopically, and microscopically using the saline wet mount and the formol ether concentration techniques. 80 (33.3%) subjects were found to be infected with four different parasites. Prevalence rates of infection were 33.4% for Ascaris lumbricoides (primary school pupils (25%), university students (8.3%); 26.7% for Hookworm (primary school pupils (16.7%), university students (10%); 5.0% for Trichuris trichiura (primary school pupils (0%)),university students (5.0%); and 1.7% for Entamoeba histolytica (primary school pupils (0%)), university students (1.7%).The primary school pupils were mostly infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and Hookworm, while the university students had more infections with Trichuris trichiura and Entamoeba histolytica. Parasitic infection was much higher in primary school pupils (41.7%) than in university students (25%), and the difference was statistically significant ( 􀀁 2 =3.75; p <0.05). We recommend that enlightenment programmes should be mounted in schools and the community so as to inform people about the hazards of intestinal parasites, and employ appropriate preventive and control measures against these harmful parasites.