Prevalence rate of intestinal parasites among schools children in Al-kalakla locality- Khartoum state

Abstract

This study was conducted on schools children in Al-kalakla locality in Khartoum state. In this study, 134 stool samples werecollected from students (67 males and 67 females). The stool samples were processed by wet preparation technique, formal ether concentration technique and saturated sugar floatation technique. The results revealed that out of the 134 stool samples collected from schools children in Al-kalakla locality in Khartoum state, 48 were found positive for gastrointestinal parasites. This constituted an overall prevalence rate of 35.8%. The study revealed that the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 38.8% in females while it was 32.8% in males. The results demonstrated that the 6-8, 9-11 and 12-14 years age groups revealed prevalence rates of 26.4%, 36.3% and 53.8% respectively. The prevalence of different parasites was as follows: Entamoebahistolytica(16.4%), Hymenolepis nana (10.4%),Entamoeba coli (7.5%),Ascarislumbricoides(5.2%),Schistosomamansoni(5.2%), Giardia lamblia(3.7%) andTaeniaspp(1.5%). The study showed that 28 (20.9%) were infected with single infection and 20 (14.9%) were infected with more than one parasites. The prevalence rates of gastrointestinal parasites by different parasitological techniques were as follows: 35.8% by formal ether concentration technique, 17.9% by wet preparation technique and 16.4% by saturated sugar flotation technique. Assuming formal ether concentration technique as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the wet preparation technique were 50% and 100% respectively and the sensitivity and specificity of the saturated sugar flotation technique were 45% and 100% respectively.