Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

Helminthiasis in School Aged Children in a Select Population in the Niger Delta

B. O. Foghi, N. C. Eze, S. O. Nzeako

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health · pp. 793–801 · Published 21 May 2014

10.9734/IJTDH/2014/9484

Abstract

Aim: Helminthiasis and its effects on the hematological parameters of school aged children in a select population in the Niger Delta. Study Design: A cross sectional study (Descriptive study). Place and Duration: The study was carried out in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, between January–April 2011. Methodology: Concentration Method (Sedimentation) was used to examine the stool samples, Packed cell volume (PCV) was obtained by the use of hematocrit centrifugation and reader method; differential white blood count (WBC) was done according to Cheesbrough (2000). Results: Result of the study showed variability in the four gastrol-intestinal helminths among the 360 pupils investigated. Out of the 264(73.3%) positive samples, 142(53.7%) and 122(46.21%) were females and males respectively. Age specific gastroi intestinal worm load was relatively high in all age groups. This pattern of infection was attributed to favorable ecological factors that promote helminths transmission in the study area. However, the overall age related worm load showed that the 5-7 age group had relatively the highest parasite load in the study. The weight and height of infected pupils in relation to the uninfected varied statistically (p<0.05) across the age ranges but was not statistically different (p>0.05) within the age groups. A. lumbricoides (53.3%) was the most prevalent helminth amongst the infected. Conclusion: Overall mixed infection was (23.4%) while the 8-9 age range recorded the highest prevalence (28.2%). Sex related prevalence varied greatly in terms of percentage infection within and across the sexes. However, gastrointestinal parasitism was not significantly different (p>0.05) within the age groups but was significantly different (p<0.05) between the sexes. PCV values were below the normal range in both the infected uninfected in the study group indicating poor nutritional status of the population.

Age specific gastro-intestinal worm load helminthes transmission mixed infection gastrointestinal parasitism nutritional status

References (15)

  1. 1 Prevalence of intestinal parasites in a population in south of Tehran, Iran [DOI]
  2. 2 Treatment with a Single Dose of Albendazole Improves Growth of Kenyan Schoolchildren with Hookworm, Trichuris Trichiura, and Ascaris Lumbricoides Infections [DOI]
  3. 3 Effect of iron-, iodine-, and β-carotene–fortified biscuits on the micronutrient status of primary school children: a randomized controlled trial [DOI]
  4. 4 The prevalence of gastro-intestinal tract parasites in primary school children in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria [DOI]
  5. 5 Five-year follow-up of a food-based vitamin A intervention in Tanzania [DOI]
  6. 6 Human gastro-intestinal parasites in Bendel State, Nigeria.
  7. 7 Intestinal helminthiasis and nutritional status of children living in orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria [DOI]
  8. 8 Prevalence Of Intestinal Helminths infections among schooling children in tropical semi urban communities [DOI]
  9. 9 T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with hookworm infection in Zaria, Nigeria.
  10. 10 A survey of gastrointestinal parasites in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria [DOI]
  11. 11 Prevalence of intestinal parasitoses in relationship to diarrhoea among children in Ilorin.
  12. 12 Intestinal helminthiasis in children with chronic neurological disorders in Benin City, Nigeria: intensity and behavioral risk factors [DOI]
  13. 13 The Use of the Height Census of Schoolchildren in Central America and Panama [DOI]
  14. 14 Ascaris lumbricoides and malnutrition in tropical children.
  15. 15 Intestinal Helminthes amongst the Hausa and Fulani Settlers at Obinze, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Cited by 3

Helminthiasis and chronic suppurative otitis media in Ijoun Community in Ogun State, Nigeria

A. Abdullahi Z., A. Morenikeji O., A. Adeyemo A. · Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology · 2018

Showing 1 of 3 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

48

Page views

0

PDF downloads

19

Outbound clicks

3

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.