Frequency of intestinal parasites among school children around Al Hawija, Kirkuk city

Introduction and Aim: Intestinal parasite infections among children are a worldwide problem, particularly in developing countries. Intestinal parasitic infections can lead to several health issues including growth and physical development in children. This investigation aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in school children residing in Al Hawija, Kirkuk. Materials and Methods: This study, undertaken between May 2021 and October 2022, involved 247 children aged between 2 and 13 years residing at Al Hawija, Kirkuk City. Stools samples collected from these children were studied for intestinal parasitic infections. Results: Of the 247 children 194 (78.6%) were seen to harbor intestinal parasites. Among these, the prevalence of protozoal and helminthic infection was observed to be 152 (61.5%) and 42 (17%) respectively. Among the protozoans, the highest prevalence was seen for Entamoeba histolytica (61.8%), followed by Giardia lamblia (30.9%) and Entamoeba coli (7.2%). Similarly, among helminthes, the highest infection was by Ascaris lumbricoidis (45.2%), followed by Enterobius vermicularis (21.4%), Trichuris trichura (11.9%), Hymenolepis nana (11.9%) and Taenia spp. (9.5%). The prevalence for these parasitic infections was observed to be highest in children aged 2-5 years. Conclusion: Children aged between 2- 5 years are prone to parasitic infections in comparison to children between 10-13 years.