Abstract :
Background: There is considerable variation in the findings over the years of study in the prevalence of school-aged children in different parts of Nepal. Recent progress in the living standards of the citizen may affect the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis.
Objective: This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of different species of gastrointestinal parasites among school children of Janakpurdham, Nepal.
Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out by collecting 155 stool samples from 10 randomly selected schools of Janakpurdham. The samples were processed by the formal-ether sedimentation method and then examined microscopically by iodine and wet mount methods.
Results: Of the 155 students, 17(10.96%) had one or more parasites. Eight species of parasites were identified during this study, Ascaris lumbricoides was recorded in 5 pupils representing 3.2% of the study population, followed by Ancylostoma duodenale 3(1.9%), Entamoeba histolytica 2(1.3%), Enterobius vermicularis 2(1.3%), Hymenolepis nana 2(1.3%), Giardia lamblia, Taenia sp. and Trichuris trichiura each recorded 1(0.6%) respectively.
Conclusion: Relatively low prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in school children of Janakpur city still requires more aggressive interventional steps and lifestyle changes.
Keyword :
Intestinal parasites schoolchildren Janakpurdham Nepal.