Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Schistosomiasis mansoni in School Children from Chilga District, Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Schistosomes and geohelminths are highly prevalent causing serious health problem in the tropics. School children carry the heaviest burden of morbidity due to intestinal helminths and schistosomiasis infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of the major intestinal helminth parasites of man and the relative appearances of multiparasitism. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in seven elementary schools in Chilga District, Northwest Ethiopia. 687 (282 males and 405 females) pupils had their faecal specimens examined for schistosomiasis mansoni and the major soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, the hook worms( by the Kato thick smear technique. Results: Infection due to A. lumbricoides was the most prevalent (42.9%, range: 22.9%-68.6%) followed by the hookworms (37.7%, range:28.0%-65.5%), Schistosoma mansoni (19.4%, range:7.0%-64.3%) and Trichuris trichiura infection (14.8%, range: 12.7%-20.8%). Single double and triple infections were encountered, respectively, in 29.1%, 32.2% and 7.1% of the examined specimens. Most of the double infections were a combination of A. lumbricoides and the hookworms (20.2%). Overall infection was neither age nor sex related. The intensity of infection was generally higher for A. lymbricoides and the hookworms. The rate of heavy infection was high for A. lumbricoides (26.9%) and the hookworms (13.8%). 15.1%, 12.6%, 10.9% and 20.7% of the infected children harboured moderate A. lumbricoides, S. mansoni, T. trichiura and hookworm infection. Conclusion: The high infection rate observed in this study signals the need for timely intervention measures in the area. Ethiop J Health Sci Vol. 11, No. 2 July 80 2001