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

摘要

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.