Intestinal Helminths

Intestinal helminths represent one of the most prevalent forms of parasitic disease that reside in the human gastrointestinal tract. They are multicellular pathogens that infect vast number of human and animal hosts, causing widespread chronic disease and morbidity. The main sufferers are poor people in developing countries especially children and pregnant women. A survey of intestinal helminth parasites among school pupils was undertaken in two primary schools in a rural community in Nigeria. After careful analysis, females were found to be more infected than the males. The study however indicated that intestinal helminthiasis was relatively not prevalent in the study area. In Nigeria, various studies have been carried out to estimate the status of soil transmitted helminth infections but there is paucity of report on intestinal heminthiasis among school children in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. Therefore, this study set out to assess the occurrence and intensity of intestinal helminth infections among the school children in the study area in order to serve as a guide for health planners in the state and beyond in evaluating worm control programmes among school children.