Concurrent Intestinal Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Nematode Infections in Primary School Children, Benue State North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted nematode (STN) infections are among the major public health problems globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive. School-aged children carry the highest burden of both infections with significant morbidities in Nigeria. Data on co-endemicity of these infections especially amongst internally displaced persons (IDP) is scarce. To fill this gap, we performed a school-based cross sectional study in three rural communities in North Central Nigeria in which internally displaced persons co-existed. The study aimed to determine the co-endemicity of Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted nematodes infections among primary school children in six primary schools in Guma Local Government area, Benue State, north central Nigeria. Four hundred and forty three primary school pupils were included in the study between January and March 2018 by using simple random technique. A single stool specimen was collected from each participant, and a portion about 1 gram of each specimen was processed by Kato Katz technique. Of the 443 pupils examined, 219(49.4%) were found positive for the characteristic egg of at least one STN. Of the total children, 46(10.4%) had Schistosoma mansoni infection. Co-infection of atleast one STN and S.mansoni occurred in 21(4.7%) of the 443 pupils sampled. Co-infection of Schistosoma mansoni and Ascaris lumbricoides was observed in 11(23.9%) while Schistosoma mansoni and hookworm occurred in 10(21.7%) of the children. There was higher intensity in the total egg count among the males (51.99±60.67) than the females (48.42±59.89) in both genders. The intensity of egg count was highest in age group 7-9 years (55.27±65.03). The lowest intensity was observed in age group 13-15 (41.47±46.08).Integrated interventions such as health education, school feeding program for improved nutrition and mass chemotherapy is advocated.

Keywords

• soil-transmitted nematodes, school children, co-infection, intestinal schistosomiasis, nigeria