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Journal of
eISSN: 2373-437X

Microbiology & Experimentation

Research Article Volume 7 Issue 2

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school aged children in Berber locality, River Nile State, Sudan 2017

Mosab Nouraldein Mohammed Hamad, Ayman Abdelrahman Mokhtar, Mazin Alameldin, Yousif Mohammed Abkar, Muzameil Eltoum

Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Elsheikh Abdallah Elbadri University, Sudan

Correspondence: Mosab Nouraldein Mohammed Hamad, Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Elsheikh Abdallah Elbadri University, Sudan

Received: February 25, 2019 | Published: March 27, 2019

Citation: Hamad MNM, Mokhtar AA, Alameldin M, et al. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school aged children in Berber locality, River Nile State, Sudan 2017. J Microbiol Exp. 2019;7(2):85-86. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2019.07.00247

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Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are amongst the most widespread infections throughout the globe. It is estimated that 3.5 billion people are affected, and that 450 million are ill as a consequence of these infections, the majority being children.

Justification: There is no previous study about the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among school aged children in Berber area.

Objectives: To know the Prevalence of the intestinal parasitic infections between schools aged children in Berber.

Method: Hundred primary school aged children were involved in the study, stool specimens were examined by direct wet preparation and formal ether centrifugation concentration method.

Result: Out of 100 students examined 87.2% had infection with intestinal parasites.

Conclusion: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among the participants was very high.

Keywords: prevalence, intestinal parasite, infection

Background

Intestinal parasitic infections are amongst the most common infections throughout the world. It is estimated that 3.5 billion people are affected, and that 450 million are ill as a result of these infections, the majority being children.1 The earliest agents of human infection to have been observed were helminthic parasites,2 Parasitic diseases are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in humans and animals throughout the world.3

These infections are regarded as a serious public health problem, as they can cause iron deficiency anemia, growth retardation in children and other physical and mental health conditions.1,4‒7 Intestinal parasites produce a variety of symptoms in those who are affected, most of which manifest themselves in gastrointestinal complications and general weakness, gastrointestinal complications include diarrhea, nausea, dysentery, and abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort. These symptoms negatively impact with nutritional status, including decreased absorption of micronutrients , loss of appetite, weight loss and intestinal blood loss that can often result in anemia(as D.latum [fish tape warm]) that absorb vitB12 and cause it is deficiency and lead to megaloblasic anemia). It may also cause physical and mental disabilities, delayed growth in children, and skin irritation around the anus and vulva.8

The high prevalence of these infections is closely correlated with poverty, poor environmental hygiene and impoverished health services.9‒11 The fecal oral route is significant in the transmission of parasitic infections to human via poor personal hygiene and environmental conditions such as contaminated soil and water sources with feces containing the infective stages of the parasite. (e.g., cysts of E. Histolytica, and ova of Ascar s Lumbricoides), Autoinfection: Few intestinal parasites may be transmitted to the same person by contaminated hand (external autoinfection) or by reverse peristalsis (internal autoinfection). It is observed in (Crypto- sporidium Parvum, Taenia Solium, Enterobius Vermicularis, Strongyloides Stercoralis and Hymenolepis Nana), Contaminated soil and water: Soil polluted with human excreta containing eggs of the parasites can act as an important source of infection, e.g., hookworm, Ascaris species, Strongyloides species and Trichuris species. Water contaminated with human excreta containing cysts of E. Histolytica or Giardia Lamblia, can act as source of infection, Raw or under cooked meat: Raw beef containing the larvae (Cysticercus Bovis) and pork containing Cysticercus Cellulosae are some of the examples where undercooked meat acts as source of infection other sources of infection: Fish, crab or aquatic plants.12,13 Worm infection is believed to be imposing an unnecessary burden on many South African children and on the overall cost of health-care.14 Disadvantaged children are the most affected, especially those who live in densely populated and under-serviced urban informal settlements as well as in some rural areas.14 World Health Assembly (WHA) member states, including South Africa, were urged to implement regular, non-selective de-worming of school-age children and young women by 2010 in areas where the prevalence of worm infestation is 50% or more.15

Justification

Currently, there is scarcity of available literature regarding the prevalence of parasitic infections from the locality; therefore, little is known about intestinal parasitic infections in the inhabitants of the Berber town, the study was carried out to fill that gap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in schools of Berber town.

Objectives

To know the Prevalence’s of the intestinal parasites among primary schools children in Berber Town.

Materials

Materials

Study design: This descriptive, cross- sectional study.

Study period: Carried out from January 2018 to March 2018.

Study area: Study was done in Berber town, which it is center of Berber locality in river Nile state, republic of Sudan, Berber locality divided in to four sectors, north sector, south sector, west sector, town sector. 152,377 live in it [26,230 of them live in the town] according to population census in 2008.

Study population: This study performed in primary school children of Berber town.

Sample size: Twenty (100) school children, where chosen to participate in the study and sample size was 78 stool sample collected from children and these sample preserved in 10% formalin because that is necessary for preservation of fecal specimens is essential to maintain protozoan morphology and also to prevent further development of helminthes egg and larva.

Sampling: The techniques that will be used are the just wet mounting of the selected stool sample.

Data collection: Questionnaire will gather information according to certain questions.

Data analysis: The percentage of the prevalence of parasitic infection among participant was calculated.

Ethical consideration: The objective of the study was explained to the study participants and verbally informed consent was obtained.

Selection criteria

  1. Inclusion criteria (class four students)
  2. Exclusion criteria (other classes)

Method

The sample was stool, collected in clean & dry plastic container, then added to it formalin for fixation, by wet preparation examine under microscope for detection of parasite.

Result

Out of 100 students examined 87.2% had infection with intestinal parasites.

Conclusion

The prevalence of intestinal parasite in Berber area primary schools was very high.

Recommendation: The prevalence of parasite was high so that something must do:

  1. Health education specially in primary school;
  2. Improve health care system;
  3. Washing of hand before and eating and after defecation.

Acknowledgements

None.

Conflict of interest

Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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