STUDY OF PARASITIC INFESTATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TANTA CITY

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

Background: School age children are one of the groups at high-risk for intestinal parasitic infestations. Factors like poor developments of hygienic habits, immune system and over-crowding contributes for infestation. The adverse effects of intestinal parasites among children are diverse and alarming. Intestinal parasitic infestations have detrimental effects on the survival, appetite, growth and physical fitness, school attendance and cognitive performance of school age children(Alemu et al., 2011).
Objectives: We aimed to
1. Assess the prevalence of parasitic infestation and its effect on the health status of primary school children in Tanta City (5 schools from 3 areas at Tanta city)   
2. Determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation among primary school children in some urban communities of Tanta City
3. Identify associated risk factors of school children for parasitic infestations in some urban communities of Tanta City.
Design: This is descriptive cross sectional study that was carried out on 1000 students (boys &girls) at governmental primary schools at Tanta rural areas.
This research was continued until fulfillment of the study from April 2017 to May 2018.
Patient And Methods: All the students were classified into two groups:
Group1:-Students have parasitic infestation (case group).
Group2:-Students do not have parasitic infestation (control group).
Results: Prevalence of parasitic infestation 31%. Single parasitic infestation in 26% and mixed infestation in 5%. The commonest Helminthic infestation was Oxyuris 8.8% followed by H. Nana 2.7%, Ascaries 2.0% and Ancylostoma 0.5%. The commonest protozol infestation was Amebae 6.5% followed by Giardia 5.5%. Mixed infestation was in form of oxyuris plus ameba in 1.4%, oxyuris plus giardia in 1.1%, oxyuris plus Ascaries in 0.3%, oxyuris plus H Nana in 0.3%, Ascaries plus ameba in 0.7%, H Nana plus ameba in 0.3%, giardia plus ameba in 0.7%. Parasitic infestation was more prevalent in boys 53.8% than girls 46.2%. There was significant increase of recurrent abdominal pain, dysentery, vomiting, diarrhea, perianal itching and pallor in infected students when compared to non - infected students. On comparison between free and infected children aged (6-

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