INTESTINAL HELMINTH INFECTIONS IN SCHOOLCIULDREN IN GONDER TOWN AND SURROUNDING AREAS, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A parasitological survey was conducted in four urban elementary
schools in Gonder town and in four rural schools from the surrounding areas. A total of 878 stool specimens supplied by children were examined for Ascaris lumbrico;des, Trichuris trichiura, the hookworms and Schistosoma manson; by the Kato thick smear technique. Infection due to A. lumbrico;des was the most prevalent (35.6%) followed by infection by S. ma'lSoni (17.3%) and T. trichiura (8.5%). The least prevalent was infection due to hookworms (3.3%). Females
were infected more than males by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. Infection was not age-related except for S. manson; which showed higher rates in the 12-16 age groups. Higher number of children of both sexes were infected in the rural areas by S. mansoni, A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura than in the urban. Of those infected, 69.8% and 30.2% had single and double infections, respectively. The common combination of double infections was with S. mansoni and A. lumbricoides and A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. The prevalence of heavy and moderate infections classified by eggs per gram of faeces was very low and showed over dispersion.