Abstract
Epidemiological study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal helminth co-infection among primary school pupils in Wamakko Local Government, Sokoto State, Nigeria. Urine and stool samples were collected from 400 pupils and analyzed using filtration and formol-ether concentration techniques respectively. Out of 400 samples, 63(32.8%) were co-infected with Schistosoma haematobium and one or more intestinal helminths. The co-infection of S. haematobium with Ascaris lumbricoides was most prevalent (74.6%), while S. haematobium with A. lumbricoides, hookworm, and S. haematobium with A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni had the least prevalence (1.6% each). Being male, 10-12 years of age and not washing hands before and after meals were the major risk factors for the spread of urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths co-infection in the study area. An integrated strategy that involves the provision of health education to the communities, regular treatments, provision of safe water supply and sanitation facilities is highly recommended.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis pose major health and socio-economic problems in developing countries [1, 2].More than two billion people are estimated to be infected with schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis worldwide, of which over 300 million suffer from associated severe morbidity [3]
The five most common parasites encountered during the study are as follows: A. lumbricoides 85.1%, S. haematobium 48.0%, S. stercoralis 10.8%, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) 2.0%, and S. mansoni, 2.0%
63 pupils were found to be co-infected with S. haematobium and intestinal helminths with a prevalence of 32.8% (Table 1)
Summary
Schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis pose major health and socio-economic problems in developing countries [1, 2]. More than two billion people are estimated to be infected with schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis worldwide, of which over 300 million suffer from associated severe morbidity [3]. Schistosomiasis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for developing countries in Africa, South America, Caribbean, Middle East, and Asia [4]. School-aged children, compared to any other age group, are the most susceptible group and harbor the greatest numbers of worms. They experience stunted growth, reduced physical fitness, impaired academic performance and reduced attendance to school [6,7,8]. Helminthic co-infection is closely tied to socio-economic, environmental and other factors such as ignorance, overcrowding, lack of clean water and tropical climate [9, 10]
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