Intestinal helminth parasites in school children in Iragbiji, boripe local government, Osun state, Nigeria.

Abstract

A survey of intestinal helminth parasites among school pupils was undertaken in 5 primary schools in Iragbiji, Osun State, southwestern Nigeria, between April and June 2002. 533 faecal samples were randomly collected from pupils of both sexes whose ages ranged from 6-17 years. Using the direct and egg flotation techniques to process the faeces, 405 (72.0%) of the samples were found positive for various intestinal helminthes, with Ascaris lumbricoides accounting for 47.0% of infections followed by Ancylostoma spp. (20.5%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.6%), Fasciola hepatica (0.6%) and Trichuris trichiura (0.2%). Mixed infections of ascaris and hookworm represented 1.9% of infections. The parasites were found in both sexes and all age groups. Infections were detected in all the schools investigated with one particular school recording an infection rate of 100%. The study showed that the pupils carry a heavy intestinal parasite burden, which is a consequence of the prevailing unhygienic environment.