title: Prevalence of intestinal worm infestations among school children in Kathmandu, Nepal.
abstract: Intestinal worm infestation is one of the major childhood health problem in Nepal. This study was done to assess the prevalence of intestinal worm infestations among school children aged 6-16 years in a public high school in Kathmandu Nepal. A total of 142 stool samples from healthy students were collected and reported following formol-ether concentration technique. The overall prevalence of intestinal worm infestation was found to be 17.6% (Boys = 22.0% vs girls = 13.5%). Children aged 6-8 years were found to be highly infected with intestinal worms (21.4%) followed by 9-12 years old (18.6%). Those between 13-16 years of age were significantly less infected (10.7%) compared to others (p < 0.05). Ova/cysts of intestinal parasites detected include Trichuris trichiura (32.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (20.0%), Hymenolepis nana (16.0%), hookworm (8.0%) and 24.0% cases showed mixed parasitic infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Nepal Medical College, Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal. khanallk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Khanal
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sapkota
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barakoti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amatya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence