Prevalence of Helminthiasis and Protozoan Infections among Students at Wat Santithamratbamrung School, Nakhonnayok

Abstract

Intestinal helminthiasis remains a public health problem in Thailand. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal helminth and protozoan infections among children grade 4-6 at Wat Santithamratbamrung School, Nakhon Nayok province. A total of 74 stool samples were collected and examined for parasitic infections by using simple smear technique and concentration technique. It was found that 4.1% of school children were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides; and 27% were infected with the protozoa including Entamoeba histolytica (9.5%), Entamoeba coli (4.1%) and Giardia lamblia 13.5%. Mixed infection of helminths and protozoa was observed in 2.7% of the samples. This study revealed that intestinal parasitic infection is still an important public health problem in students. Therefore, health education and behavioral change interventions remain critical measures for the success in the prevention and control of intestinal parasitic infection in students.