A study of intestinal parasitic infections among parents and their children

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty apparently healthy subjects from families, comprising of 50 fathers, 50 mothers and 150 children, were included in this study. Only families with 3 children, of ages ranging from 1 year to 12 years were included.
Questionnaires were administered to obtain information from the subjects. Stool samples were collected from each of the subjects and examined within 20 minutes of collection, for larvae, cysts and ova of parasites, by saline and iodine methods.
Stoll count was carried out on every stool sample that was positive for helminthes ova. Negative samples were further examined, using sedimentation, concentration methods for “cysts, ova and schistosomes”. Intestinal parasites detected included Ascaris lumbricoides 51.2%, Hookworm 0.4%, Strongyliodes stercoralis s8%,
Trichuris trichiura 1.2%, Taenia species, 0.4%, Diphilobothrium latum 1.6%, Entamoeba histolytica 5.2%, Giardia lamblia 2.4%, and Trichomonas hominis 3.2%. The positive rate among the families was76%. Subjects with close contacts with the rural areas had increased rate of intestinal parasites. Eating outside the family
setting had no influence on the presence or absence of intestinal parasitic infections. Boiling of drinking water reduced parasitic infections. Keeping of pets at home had no influence on intestinal parasitic burdens. It was observed that there was no association between the parasites of parents and their children. Also children of the same family had varieties of intestinal parasites, (indicating different possible sources of infection). Intestinal parasitic status of apparently healthy subjects, with a high positivity rate of 76%, is highlighted.