Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infestation in Hospital Admitted Under 12 Years Old Children and Their Associated Risk Factors

Abstract

Gastrointesninal (GI) parasitic infestation is an important public health problem in Bangladesh, especially for children and has a great impact on morbidity and mortality. It is caused by intestinal helminths and protozoan parasites. Parasitic diseases are connected to lack of sanitation, lack of access to safe water and improper hygiene. Current study aimed to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection and associated risk factors among children from 1 month to 12 years. A total of 299 stool sample were collected from CMCH (Chattogram Medical College Hospital) and CMOSH (Chattogram Ma-O-Shishu Hospital) for the study purpose. Data were collected by using a semi-structured quentionnaire and analyzed by STATA 13 analytical software. Staining and quantitative tests were done to detect and count the parasites and qualititave tests were done for identification of parasites. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection was 7.4%. Among the infestation, nematodes are found the most. The most commonly occurred nematode was Ascaris lumbricoides (47.62%, 95% CI: 25.71-70.22) followed by Ancylostoma duodenale (28.57%, 95% CI: 11.28- 52.17), Trichuris trichiuria (23.81%, 95% CI: 8.22-47.17). Among the Cestodes, the commonest was Taenia species (66.67%, 95% CI: 9.43-99.16) and Hymenolepis species (33.33%, 95% CI: 0.84-90.57). In Protozoa group, the commonest was Giardia lamblia (60%, 95% CI: 14.66-94.73), Balantidium coli (20%, 95% CI: 0.51-70.64) and Cyclospora cayetanensis (20%, 95% CI: 0.51-70.64). GI parasitic infections were more common among the age group 1 to 59 months (90.3%, 95% CI: 86.36-93.41) and the male gender (63.88%, 95% CI: 58.15-69.33) but statistically (P-value <0.05) was similar in both gastrointestinal parasitic infected participants and with no infected group. Lower mother educational status, urban slum, and lower economic status along with poor personal hygiene practice were found higher among the patients with GI parasitic infection. Increased awareness programs regarding good sanitation and proper personal hygiene can help to reduce the prevalence of gastrointrstinal parasitic infection among the children.