Assessment of polyparasitism with intestinal parasite infections and urinary schistosomiasis among school children in a semi-urban area of south eastern Nigeria

摘要

Polyparasitism with intestinal parasites and schistosomiasis constitutes a major pubic health challenge in Nigeria especially among school age children. Using standard parasitological techniques, intestinal parasitic infections and urinary schistosomiasis were assessed among school age children in Edda a semi-urban area of south-eastern Nigeria. Of the 300 children screened, 32(10.7%) had intestinal parasitic infections while 41(13.6%) of the children were infected with S. haematobium. Up to seven intestinal parasites were identified. E. histolytica was more commonly observed than other parasites. Children of age group 11-12years old were more infected with intestinal parasites than other age categories, statistically, there was a significant difference in the trend (χ2= 16.48, df=2, P<0.05). Males had slightly higher prevalence (14.7%) of S. haematobium infection than the females (12.5%) and age-specific prevalence showed that those aged 10-11 years old had the highest prevalence (14.6%). School-based treatment campaigns and health education can improve children health. Introduction Polyparasitism with intestinal parasites and schistosomiasis is now globally recognized be the norm for many residents of parasite endemic regions and particularly among children of school age [1234]. Intestinal parasitic infections caused by protozoans and helminths are globally endemic and have been described as constituting the greatest single worldwide cause of illness and disease [56], in fact about one third of the world, more than two billion people, are infected with intestinal parasites [6]. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms, collectively referred to as soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), are the most common intestinal parasites [7]. It is estimated that globally A. lumbricoides infects 1.221 billion people, T. trichiura 795 million, and hookworms 740 million [8]. Giardia lamblia, causing giardiasis, is the most prevalent protozoan parasite worldwide with about 200 million people being currently infected [59]. Urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium constitutes a major public health problem in many tropical and sub-tropical countries and is reportedly endemic in 53 counties in the Middle East and most of the African continent [1011]. Two hundred million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with S. haematobium of which 70% live in sub-Saharan Africa [3]. Intestinal parasitic infections and urinary schistosomiasis have been described as diseases of poverty and underdevelopment because they have been linked to lack of sanitation, lack of access to safe water and improper hygiene [12]. These parasitic diseases deprive the poorest of the poor of health, contributing to economic instability and social marginalization; and the poor people of under developed nations experience a cycle where under nutrition and repeated infections lead to excess morbidity that can continue from generation to generation [13]. School age children in developing countries are the most severely affected by polyparasitism with intestinal parasites and schistosomiasis and continue to bear the greatest health burden due to the infections [414]. According to a World Bank report, morbidity due to helminth infections accounts for an estimated 20% of the disability-adjusted life years lost due to infectious diseases in children less than 14 years old [15]. It is pertinent to state that despite the high global incidence, STH infections rarely cause death. Instead, the burden of disease is related less to mortality than to the chronic and insidious effects on the hosts’ health and nutritional status [1617]. Similarly, infection with S. haematobium does not always result in clinical disease, and many infections are asymptomatic, S. haematobium infection however could cause haematuria, dysuria, nutritional deficiencies, lesion of the bladder, kidney failure, and an elevated risk of bladder cancer [18]. Nevertheless in addition to th