ABSTRACT
This
study has examined the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among children
living in orphanage home in Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria. Universal stool
sample bottles were distributed to the children in Daughter of Mercy
Compassionate home, Ahiaeke, Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria for collection
of their stool samples through the assistance of their caregivers. The
parasitological techniques used were physiological saline and by formol-ether
concentration technique. The stool specimens were also examined for adult worms
and stool consistency. The presence or absence of blood was also noted. Of the
56 children examined, 21(37.50%) were positive with various gastrointestinal
parasites. Five species of gastro-intestinal parasites were detected in the
faecal samples of the children. The gastrointestinal parasites detected were
eggs of Hookworm (14.29%), Ascaris lumbricoides (5.36%), Trichuris trichiura
(1.79%), Entamoeba histolytica (8.93%) and Giardia intestinalis (7.14%). The
prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was not significant (P > 0.05) but
was higher in females (23.21%) than in males (14.29%) with hookworm as the most
prevalent (14.29%) among the children comprising 8.93% infection rate in
females and 5.36% in males. This is followed by Entamoeba histolytica which
registered a prevalence rate of 8.93% among the children with 5.36% in females
and 3.57% in males. Children within 2-5 years of age were mostly infected
(16.07%) as compared to children between 0-1 year of age who showed infection
rate of 12.50% followed by children aged 6 years and above (8.93%).Children who
are aged between 0-1 years showed negative for Ascaris lumbricoides and
Trichuris trichiura parasites but showed positive for Hookworm and Giardia
intestinalis parasites with the same prevalent rate (5.36%). In addition, there
was a high prevalence of single infections (26.78%) among the children as
compared to the prevalence of co-infection (5.36%) among the children examined.
In conclusion, transmission of gastrointestinal parasites can occur during
outdoor play on soil contaminated with infected faeces or through ingestion of
helminth eggs/protozoan cysts in contaminated food, snacks, drinking
contaminated water, eating with unwashed hands and the geophagus habit of
children. Hence, it is recommended that routine examination of stool of all
children within Ahiaeke community and beyond be carried out regularly in order
to control the spread and contamination of gastrointestinal infection to the
unaffected children.
EBERECHUKWU, A (2023). Prevalence Of Gastrointestinal Parasites Among Children Living In Orphanage Home In Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Sep 07, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gastrointestinal-parasites-among-children-living-in-orphanage-home-in-umuahia-north-abia-state-nigeria-7-2
ANTHONY, EBERECHUKWU. "Prevalence Of Gastrointestinal Parasites Among Children Living In Orphanage Home In Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 Sep. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gastrointestinal-parasites-among-children-living-in-orphanage-home-in-umuahia-north-abia-state-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 07 Sep. 2024.
ANTHONY, EBERECHUKWU. "Prevalence Of Gastrointestinal Parasites Among Children Living In Orphanage Home In Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 Sep. 2023. Web. 07 Sep. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gastrointestinal-parasites-among-children-living-in-orphanage-home-in-umuahia-north-abia-state-nigeria-7-2 >.
ANTHONY, EBERECHUKWU. "Prevalence Of Gastrointestinal Parasites Among Children Living In Orphanage Home In Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2023). Accessed 07 Sep. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gastrointestinal-parasites-among-children-living-in-orphanage-home-in-umuahia-north-abia-state-nigeria-7-2