Abstract
Ameobiasis is an infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, which is a serious problem especially in developing countries and ranks third among the parasitic infections that lead to death mostly in primary age children.The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of E. histolytical in young children.Three hundred (300) children aged 0-14 years were sampled for E. histolytica infection in five rural communities in Wushishi Local Government Area, Niger State, North Central Nigeria. The stool samples were examined for cysts of E. histolytica using saline and iodine preparations. The prevalence rate of 17 % was recorded. The prevalence by sex had a higher infection rate in males (19.3 %) than females (14.6%) which was not significantly (P>0.05). The prevalence of the infection in relation to age was highest (23%) in 7 to 10 year age group, while the least infection of 12 (12%) was recorded in 11 to 14 year age group A significant association was found between the sources of drinking water and prevalence of E. histolytica (P<0.05). The highest was recorded in those using stream/pond (89.2%) and least recorded from Borehole/Tap (40.3%). Therefore, it become necessary need for improved sanitation, personal hygiene, health education policy and a proper deworming scheme amongst school children in the study areas in order to decrease infections rate.
Highlights
Amoebiasis known as amoebic looseness of the bowels is an infection due to any member from the Entamoeba group, a protozoan that occurs worldwide (Pritty and Clark, 2008)
There was no association between the communities inspected and the prevalence of E. histolytica disease (P>0.05)
The prevalence of E. histolytica according to sex indicated that out of the 150 female analyzed, 22 (14.6%) were positive or contaminated, while of 150 male students inspected, 29 (19.3%) were infected with E. histolytica
Summary
Amoebiasis known as amoebic looseness of the bowels is an infection due to any member from the Entamoeba group, a protozoan that occurs worldwide (Pritty and Clark, 2008). Amoebiasis is a disease condition caused by Entamoeba histolytica and is perceived to reason around 500 million infections for every annum in developing countries, with a frequency of roughly 50 million and 100,000 deaths (Haque and Petri, 2006). The prevalence of amoebiasis varies with the population of persons affected, varying among nations and between zones with various financial conditions. A few epidemiological examinations have demonstrated a high frequency of intestinal parasitic infections among Nigerian children (Ajero et al, 2008). The high prevalence of E. histolytica contaminations is firmly associated with poverty, poor personal hygiene, poor environmental hygiene and poor health care sevice providers having an inadequate supply of drugs medication and inappropriate acknowledgment of the transmission systems and life-cycle styles of those parasites (Mbanugo and Onyebuchi, 2002). School youths are appropriate focuses for mass treatment programme towards intestinal worms because of the reality they are said to have a higher event of the infection (Mbagwu et al, 2019)
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