Abstract
Ascariasis is a common public health problem of preschool and primary school children in developing countries like Pakistan. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of Ascaris lumbericoides (A. lumbricoides) infection among children residing in urban areas of Lahore, to provide information on ascariasis to promote awareness and prevention programs between the participants specially on the months or season of higher prevalence. To investigate the prevalence of Ascaris Lumbricoides in the contaminated faecal samples of children residing in urban areas of Lahore, a study was conducted from November 2010 to October 2012 and we collected 3600 stratified faecal samples from six urban study areas. Overall 32/3600 (0.88%) prevalence of fecal samples was found positive for eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides. Area wise highest presence positivity 1.67% was observed in Allama Iqbal Town followed by 1.17% in Samanabad, 1.00% in Wapda Town, 1.00% in Gulberg, 0.50% in Cantt, and the lowest 0.00% in Valencia Town respectively (p < 0.001) The highest month wise positivity prevalence 3/300 (3.33%) (p < 0.001) was observed in the month of September that gradually declined up to 0/300 (0.00%) in the month of March. The results reveal that urban areas of Lahore are susceptible to Ascaris Lubricoides infection and the highest prevalence were observed autumn on the month of September.
Highlights
IntroductionThe aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of Ascaris lumbericoides (A. lumbricoides) infection among children residing in urban areas of Lahore, to provide information on ascariasis to promote awareness and prevention programs between the participants specially on the months or season of higher prevalence
Ascariasis is a common public health problem of preschool and primary school children in developing countries like Pakistan
Inadequate water supply, contact with contaminated soil, walking bare footed, do not wash hands before eating and after defecation in early childhood when they are incautious for self-hygiene, eating raw vegetables and low Socio-Economic Status (SES) enhanced the prevalence to get a scariasis[5]
Summary
The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of Ascaris lumbericoides (A. lumbricoides) infection among children residing in urban areas of Lahore, to provide information on ascariasis to promote awareness and prevention programs between the participants specially on the months or season of higher prevalence. The results reveal that urban areas of Lahore are susceptible to Ascaris Lubricoides infection and the highest prevalence were observed autumn on the month of September. About 2 billion people in the world are infected with at least one species of Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) i.e., one billion due to A. lumbricoides and 4 billion are at r isk[1]. Ascaris lumbricoides (A. lumbricoides) is a Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) commonly distributed in tropical and sub-tropical areas, is a common nematode infecting human with increased prevalence (%) due to poor sanitary conditions. Eggs in soil are transmitted to water, vegetables, food, seats of commodes, handles
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