Prevalence of Intestinal and Soil Transmitted Helminths Among Primary School Children of Badessa District, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Amsalu Mekonnen Wolde

Background: Helminthes are known as parasitic worms [1]. Helminthes of medically important are belonging to two phyla: the Platy helminths as flat worms and Nematy helminths or round worms. Platy helminths are further subdivided into Cestodes and Trematodes [2]. According to some literatures, parasitic worms are categorized into three groups: Cestodes, nematodes, and Trematodes [1]. In this study, the prevalence of intestinal and soil transmitted helminths among primary school children were assessed by two stool examination methods namely: wet mount and Kato-Katz thick smear techniques. for the diagnosis of intestinal helminths were compared to detect human intestinal helminths.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of intestinal and soil transmitted helminths among primary school children in Badessa woreda, west Hararghe zone, Oromia region, eastern Ethiopia.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was conducted for the study then four primary schools were selected by lottery method from 11 primary schools. Finally, 200 primary school children had given a stool specimen for wet mount and Kato-Katz methods so that two types of stool specimens were collected from school children aged 6 to 16 from four primary schools randomly selected in Badessa woreda, West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Each specimen was smeared on one slide for every technique with normal saline for wet mount and a cellophane cover for Kato-Katz technique. The overall prevalence of the parasites in each school of the woreda was determined.

Result: The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides (19.5%), Eterobius vermicularis (13%) and Hookworm (49%) was high in schools 1, 2 and 4. The prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni (38%) high in school 3 (Table 3). Finally, Kato- Katz technique had played more role and was more effective and sensitive than the stool wet mount technique in order to find the result.

Conclusion: Intestinal and soil transmitted helminths were significantly detected especially from carriers and non-symptomatic children. Kato-Katz technique was more selective and sensitive than wet mount method.

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