Common Intestinal Parasites among Patients Attending Comprehensive Health Care Centre, Kware, Sokoto State.

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are a public health challenge particularly in developing countries. Gastrointestinal parasite infections are mostly due to poverty characterized by poor hygienic habits, absence of portable and clean water, absence of good faecal disposal system and poor nutrition. In a study, we investigated the common intestinal parasite among patients attending Comprehensive Health Care Centre, Kware. Nine hundred and Eighty-one patients who reported to Comprehensive Health Care Centre, Kware between March to September, 2010 with cases of gastrointestinal, abdominal pain and diarrhoea were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites. Direct wet film examination, formal ether concentration techniques and iodine stain-preparation was used. Two hundred and fifty apparently healthy members of Kware Local Government Area Community and immediate environ were examined as controls. A total of 214 (21.8%) out of the 981 patients examined were found to be infected with one or two parasites. Among the controls 18/250 (7.2%) were infected with common parasites (p<0.05). Patients who are 18 years and above had higher percentage (28.5%) compared to patients between 1-5 years (12.7%) and those between aged 16-17 (28.0%). Infections were higher among male patients (28.5%) than in female patients (18.7%) (p=0.05). The rate of parasitic infection was higher among subjects compared to controls. There is need for mass treatment and health education campaign to enlighten the public on the need for good sanitary and hygienic practices.