Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T22:37:05.491Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Intestinal helminths in a population of children from the Kashmir valley, India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2008

S.A. Wani ,
F. Ahmad ,
S.A. Zargar ,
P.A. Dar ,
Z.A. Dar  and
T.R. Jan
S.A. Wani*
Affiliation:
P. G. Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar190 006, Jammu and Kashmir State, India
F. Ahmad
Affiliation:
P. G. Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar190 006, Jammu and Kashmir State, India
S.A. Zargar
Affiliation:
Department of Gastroenterology, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar190 011, Jammu and Kashmir State, India
P.A. Dar
Affiliation:
P. G. Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar190 006, Jammu and Kashmir State, India
Z.A. Dar
Affiliation:
P. G. Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar190 006, Jammu and Kashmir State, India
T.R. Jan
Affiliation:
P. G. Department of Statistics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar190 006, Jammu and Kashmir State, India
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In any geographical area, surveys of the prevalence of intestinal helminths are necessary to suggest appropriate control measures. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections in children of the Kashmir valley and to identify the risk factors. Stool samples were collected from 2256 children from rural as well as urban areas of the Kashmir valley. The samples were examined by simple smear and zinc sulphate concentration methods. Intensity of the infection was quantified by Stoll's egg-counting technique. Infection by at least one intestinal helminth was found in 71.18% of the sampled population. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was highest (68.30%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (27.92%), Enterobius vermicularis (12.67%) and Taenia saginata (4.60%). Light (57.1%) to moderate (42.8%) intensity of infection was observed for A. lumbricoides, while the majority of the infected children (92.3%) harboured a light intensity of infection for T. trichiura. The age group, rural or urban residence, type of water source, boiled or unboiled water, type of defecation site, level of personal hygiene and maternal education were associated with helminth infection. Adequate control measures are urgently needed to combat the high prevalence of intestinal helminths and risk factors in the children of Kashmir valley.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 82 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 313 - 317
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahmed, I., Ahmad, N. & Ahangar, A.G. (2003) Surgical Ascariais in children. JK Practitioner 10, 17–21.Google Scholar
Anderson, T.J.C., Romeroabal, M.E. & Jaewike, J. (1993) Genetic structure and epidemiology of Ascaris populations: patterns of host affiliation in Guatemala. Parasitology 107, 319–334.Google Scholar
Bundy, D.A.P., Cooper, E.S., Thompson, D.E., Anderson, R.M. & Didier, J.M. (1987) Age related prevalence and intensity of Trichuris trichiura infection in St. Lucian community. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 88, 85–94.Google Scholar
Bundy, D.A.P., Kan, S.P. & Rose, R. (1988) Age related prevalence, intensity and frequency distribution of gastro-intestinal helminths in urban slum children from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 82, 289–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chatterjee, K.D. (1995) Parasitology in relation to clinical medicine. India, Sree Saraswaty Press Ltd.Google Scholar
Curtis, V., Kanki, B., Meretens, T., Traore, E., Diallo, I., Tall, F. & Cousens, S. (1995) Putties, pits and pipes; explaining hygiene behaviour in Burkina-faso. Social Sciences and Medicine 41, 383–393.Google Scholar
Feachem, R.G., Guy, M.W., Harrison, S., Iwugo, K.O., Marshall, T., Mbere, N., Muller, R. & Wright, A.M. (1983) Excreta disposal facilities and intestinal parasitism in urban Africa: preliminary studies in Bostwana, Ghana and Zambia. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 77, 515–521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gupta, O.P. (2005) Jammu and Kashmir general knowledge. 21 pp. New Delhi, India, Ramesh Publishing House.Google Scholar
Hominick, W.M., Dean, C.G. & Schad, G.A. (1987) Population biology of hookworms in West Bengal: analysis of numbers of infective larvae recovered from damp pads applied to the soil surface at defecation sites. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 81, 978–986.Google Scholar
Ibrahim, A.H. (2002) Prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in Deir-El-Balah town in Gaza strip, Palestine. Annals of Saudi Medicine 22, 273–275.Google Scholar
Kabaterine, N.B., Tukahebwa, E.M., Brooker, S., Alderman, H. & Hall, A. (2001) Epidemiology of intestinal helminth infestations among school children in southern Uganda. East African Medical Journal 78, 283–286.Google Scholar
Legesse, M. & Erko, B. (2004) Prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in south east of Lake Longano, Ethiopia. European Journal of Health Development 18, 116–120.Google Scholar
Martin, J., Keymer, A., Isherwood, R.J. & Wainwright, S.M. (1983) The prevalence and intensity of Ascaris lumbricoides infections in Moslem children from Northern Bangladesh. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 77, 702–706.Google Scholar
Montressor, A., Crompton, D.W.T., Hall, A., Bundy, D.A.P. & Salvioli, L. (1998) Guide lines for the evaluation of soil transmitted helminths and Schistosomiasis at community level. WHO/CTD/SIP/98.1.Geneva, WHO.Google Scholar
Narain, K., Raj guru, S.K. & Mahanta, J. (2000) Prevalence of Trichuris trichiura in relation to socio-economic and behavioral determinants of exposure to infection in rural Assam. Indian Journal of Medical Research 112, 140–146.Google ScholarPubMed
Okayay, P., Ertug, S., Gultekin, B., Onem, O. & Beser, E. (2004) Intestinal parasite prevalence and related factors in school children, a western city sample, Turkey. BMC Public Health 4, 64. Available from websitehttp://www.biomedcentral.com/147-2458/4/64 (accessed 15 May 2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Onubogu, U.V. (1978) Intestinal parasites of school children in urban and rural areas of Eastern Nigeria. Zentralblatt Fur Bakteriologie 242, 121–132.Google Scholar
Palmer, D.R. & Bundy, D.A.P. (1995) Epidemiology of human hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides infestations in rural Gambia. East African Medical Journal 72, 527–530.Google ScholarPubMed
Phiri, K., Whitty, C.J., Graham, S.M. & Ssembatya-lule, G. (2000) Urban/rural differences in prevalence and risk factors for intestinal helminth infections in Southern Malawi. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 94, 381–387.Google Scholar
Rodriguez, Z.R., Lozano, C.G., Diaz, I., Cheng, R. & Rucson, G. (2000) Intestinal parasites in schoolchildren at a public institution in Maracaibo municipality, Venezuela. Investigacion Clinica 41, 37–57.Google Scholar
Saathoff, E., Olsen, A., Kvalsvig, J.D. & Appleton, C.C. (2004) Patterns of geohelminth infection, impact of Albandazole treatment and reinfection after treatment in school children from rural Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. BMC Infectious Diseases 4, 27. Available from websitehttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/4/27 (accessed 30 May 2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simeon, D.T., Grantham-McGregor, S.M., Callender, J.E. & Wong, J.E. (1995) Treatment of Trichuris trichiura infection improves growth, spelling scores and school attendance in some children. Journal of Nutrition 125, 1875–1883.Google Scholar
Ulukanligil, M. & Seyrek, A. (2003) Demographic and parasitic infection status of school children and sanitary conditions of schools in Sanliurfa, Turkey. BMC Public Health 3, 29. Available from websitehttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-458/3/29 (accessed 30 May 2004).Google Scholar
Wani, S.A., Ahmad, F., Zargar, S.A., Ahmad, Z., Ahmad, P. & Tak, H. (2007) Prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Srinagar city, Kashmir, India. Journal of Parasitology 93, 1541–1543.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed