Publication:

Assessing the burden of intestinal parasitic infestations among children in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, India: implications for public health policy

Background This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation among children in selected rural area Kunnathur, Arani Taluk, Thiruvannalmalai, Tamil Nadu, India and the implications for public health policy.

Methods The present cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation among children. A total of 60 stool samples were collected and examined for parasitic infections through visual and microscopic observation. Samples were screened using saline and iodine wet mounts, a saturated saline concentration technique and light microscopy was used to analysis the data.

Results Out of 60 stool sample (female 30), (male 30) a total of 46 (76.7%) positive for parasite infections. The gender-wise prevalence among the children showed that, 21 boys (70%) and 25 girls (83.4%) were recorded positive with minimum one parasitic infestation. The positive cases of individual parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba vermicularis and mixed infections were also detected in the present investigation. The distribution of parasites was maximum among 7-9 years age group with 77.8%, followed by 4‑6 years age group with 73.4% was found in this study. While males were mostly infected with A. lumbricoids, females were mostly infected with Ancylostoma duodenale.

Conclusions The result of the present study revealed importance of creating awareness among rural areas about children’s personal hygiene, environmental hygiene particularly in communities with poor water, sanitation, eating contaminated food, open defecation, walking with barefoot, effectiveness of deworming treatment intervals from 6 to 4 months in order to reduce the risk of parasitic infection.