Prevalence and Intensity of Gastro-Intestinal Helminthiasis Among School Age Children in Nkondjock, Littoral-Cameroon

Ngangnang Ghislain Roméo

doi:10.11648/j.ijbecs.20170306.13

Abstract

Gastro-intestinal helminthiasis is an infection which affects at least one person in two in the world and mainly school age children. Our study was conducted with the objective of determining the prevalence and intensity of these infections among pupils in Nkondjock Sub-Division. So, 417 faecal specimens randomly collected from 185 (44.3%) boys and 232 (55.6%) girls were examined, following physical flotation method (Willis’s technique) for qualitative analysis and the numeration method (Stoll’s method) for quantitative analysis. An overall prevalence of 24.5% was observed in the entire population. Three species of gastro-intestinal helminths were identified, principally geohelminths (STH) such as Ascaris lumbricoides (12.0% and 975.00 ± 643.35 epg) which was the most common, followed by Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus) (9.4% and 970.59 ± 578.81 epg) and lastly Trichuris trichiura (4.1% and 833.33 ± 452.82 epg). Multiple helminthic infection were recorded with Ascaris lumbricoides + Trichuris trichiura (0.50%) having the highest prevalence among the children. Gastro-Intestinal helminths were most predominant among children aged 16-20 years (44.2%) than those within age group 11-15 years (17.1%). Boys were more infected (27.0%) than girls (24.2%) without a difference statistically significant. This study shows that the prevalence of infection may not be influenced by age and sex and, education of the population on hygienic habits and periodic deworming programme should be done routinely as this would reduce prevalence and intensity of intestinal worm infection among school children.

Highlights

Gastro-intestinal helminthiasis represents one on the most common problem of the public health in the world “[6], [37]” and like lymphatic filariasis, they are integrated in the programme initiated by World Health Organization (WHO) to fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTD), principally in developing countries “[35]”
Of the population sampled (N = 417; 185 boys and 232 girls), Ascaris lumbricoides accounted for 12.0%, Trichuris trichiura 4.1% and Hookworm 9.4% (Table 1)
Ascaris lumbricoides and Hookworm were present in all age group while Trichuris trichiura was absent in children of 11-15 years

Summary

Introduction

Gastro-intestinal helminthiasis represents one on the most common problem of the public health in the world “[6], [37]” and like lymphatic filariasis, they are integrated in the programme initiated by World Health Organization (WHO) to fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTD), principally in developing countries “[35]”. They are chronic diseases “[12]” that is, the primary manifestation hides their gravity. It is estimated that in Latin America and the Caribbean at least 13.9 million preschool age and 35.4 million school age children are at risk of infections by soil-transmitted helminths “[29]” where they are Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms “[18]”.

Methods

Results

Conclusion