Saturday, August 30, 2014
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Article Published on TU Journal of Microbiology
INTESTINAL
PARASITIC INFECTION AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN KATHMANDU VALLEY
Nabaraj Adhikari1,
Upendra Thapa Shrestha1, Pradeep Kumar Shah2, Rama Khadka1,
Sanjeeb Shrestha1, Sital Khanal1, Pramila Adhikari1,
Shreejit Shrestha1, Nanda Maya Mali1
1Department of Microbiology,
Kantipur College of Medical Science, Sitapaila, Kathmandu
2Department of Microbiology,
Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu
Abstract
Intestinal
parasitosis, a major public health problem, particularly in the developing
countries, affects 3.5 billion people globally. The high prevalence rate is
attributed to lack of education, lack of latrines, occurrence of diarrhea,
lower socio-economic status, inadequate disposal of human excreta and the level
of sanitation in households. Present study was carried out to find out the
prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in
Kathmandu Valley from 2011 to 2012. A total of 265 stool specimens, collected
from private and public school children were examined by normal saline wet
mount. The formalin ether sedimentation technique was performed for the
concentration of the parasites in the stool specimens. Data obtained from
laboratory findings and questionnaires were statistically analyzed using chi
square test. Out of 265 individuals, 98 (36.98%) were found to be infected with
intestinal parasites. Ascaris lumbricoids (61/98, 62.24%) was the most
common parasite followed by Trichuris truchuria (36/98, 36.73%) and
others. The infection rate was higher in public school children (58/145, 40%)
in comparison to private school children (40/120, 33.33%) which reflect the
poor hygienic conditions in the public school in the capital city of Nepal.
Lower rate of multiparasitism (29/98, 29.96%) was seen among study population
in compare to monoparasitism being higher rate (69/98, 70.41%). The findings of
this study showed the higher parasitosis among school children in Kathmandu
Valley which revealed the poor hygienic and sanitary conditions. Higher
helminthic infections among the study population indicated the need of
comprehensive program and administration of anthelminthic drug regularly to
combat intestinal helminthes associated morbidity and mortality in Nepal.
For Citation: Adhikari N, Shrestha
UT, Shah PK, Khadka R, Shrestha S, Khanal S, Adhikari
P, Shrestha S, Mali NM, Basnyat SR (2014). Intestinal
parasitic infection among school children in Kathmandu valley. Tribhuvan University Journal of Microbiology, vol 2 (1): 6-9.