Prevalence of ascaris lumbricoides in children admitted to the paediatric observation ward Kenyatta National Hospital
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Date
1985-02Author
Adoko, Florence A
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
500 children attending the Paediatric Observation
Ward at the Kenyatta National Hospital were investigated
for intestinal helminths, during the period 12/2/84 to
9/4/84. 59 of these children were found to harbour
Ascaris lumbricoides, making the prevalence rate in this
study 11.8%.
Egg counts were done in 1 cases, using the Kato
Thick Smear Method. 11 of these had heavy infestations
characterized by egg counts well above 10,000 eggs/gm of
faeces.
The children's ages ranged from 4 days to 12 years.
Those in the age group 2-10 years were the most affected
while those aged below one year were the least affected.
There was no significant difference in the infestation
rate between males and females.
Other helminths found in the study were Trichuris
trichiuria,hookworm, schistosoma mansoni, strongyloides
stercoralis and hymenolepis nana. Their prevalence rates
ranged from 0.2% to 3.8%.
There was no marked difference clinically, in the
nutritional status between those children with intestinal
helminths and those without .
No significant difference was noted in the rate of
infestation in those children who had either the pit
latrines or the flush toilets in their homes.
Only one child, out of six children who had no
toilets at home, was found to nave A. lumbricoides.
Citation
Master of medicine,Paediatrics and child health,University of Nairobi,1985.Publisher
University of Nairobi Paediatrics and child health