Concurrent intestinal schistosomiasis and soil transmitted nematode infections in primary school children, Benue State, north central Nigeria
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Date
2020-07
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University of Peradeniya
Abstract
Intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted nematode
(STN) infections are among the major public health problems
globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive.
School-aged children carry the highest burden of both infections
with significant morbidities in Nigeria. Data on co-endemicity of
these infections especially amongst internally displaced persons
(IDP) is scarce. To fill this gap, we performed a school-based
cross sectional study in three rural communities in North Central
Nigeria in which internally displaced persons co-existed. The study
aimed to determine the co-endemicity of Schistosoma mansoni
and soil-transmitted nematodes infections among primary school
children in six primary schools in Guma Local Government area,
Benue State, north central Nigeria. Four hundred and forty three
primary school pupils were included in the study between January
and March 2018 by using simple random technique. A single stool
specimen was collected from each participant, and a portion about
1 gram of each specimen was processed by Kato Katz technique.
Of the 443 pupils examined, 219(49.4%) were found positive for
the characteristic egg of at least one STN. Of the total children,
46(10.4%) had Schistosoma mansoni infection. Co-infection of
atleast one STN and S.mansoni occurred in 21(4.7%) of the 443
pupils sampled. Co-infection of Schistosoma mansoni and Ascaris
lumbricoides was observed in 11(23.9%) while Schistosoma
mansoni and hookworm occurred in 10(21.7%) of the children.
There was higher intensity in the total egg count among the males
(51.99±60.67) than the females (48.42±59.89) in both genders.
The intensity of egg count was highest in age group 7-9 years
(55.27±65.03). The lowest intensity was observed in age group
13-15 (41.47±46.08).Integrated interventions such as health
education, school feeding program for improved nutrition and
mass chemotherapy is advocated.
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Citation
Concurrent, intestinal schistosomiasis, Soil transmitted nematode infection