Soil-transmitted Helminthiases and Possible Sources of Ascariasis and Trichuriasis Infections in Primary School Children, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

Abstract

In southern Thailand, the prevalence rate of soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) among Thai muslims was quite high, especially among seaside communities. Their households were built in cluster. Poor environmental sanitation in the village and optimal conditions for the development of eggs provoked high infection rates in the population. Infected persons spread the disease to the whole community and the major of infection rate was found among school-aged children. Prevalence rates and intensity of infection were studied among 502 primary school children by stool examination (Katz’s modified thick smear technique). Helminth eggs were detected from soil (sugar flotation method) and nail dirt. The results showed that the school children had trichuriasis (46.6%), ascariasis (17.9%), and hookworm infection (7.0%). Whipworm and roundworm infection were commonly found among the aged < 12 years. The highest prevalence rate of trichuriasis (49.7%) and ascariasis (19.5%) were in the age group 8-11 years while hookworm infection rate was high among the age group of 4-7 years (10.2%). Heavy STH infections were mostly persisted in children aged 4-7 years, being 51.7%, 23.0%, and 18.8% for Ascaris, Trichuris, and hookworm infection, respectively. Whipworm and pinworm eggs were found in the nail dirt (3.3%) of the school children. Whipworm eggs were also detected in soil samples. The findings indicated the sources of helminth infection in the community, and the transmission cycle in the endemic area. Mixed infections of two kinds of worm were found in 28.1%, and 5.9% had triple infections.

Keywords: soil-transmitted helminthiases; possible sources; primary school children