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

Corresponding Address: Nabaraj Adhikari, Email: adhikarinaba13@gmail.com,

                                                                                                                                               

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.      

Keywords:  Intestinal parasites, School children Ascaris lubricoides, Giardia 

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.