Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infestations in Relation to Wasting;among Pre-school Childrenin Skardu, Pakistan
Year: 2020
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background:Parasitic infestations are one of the prominentpublic health problems. Children are affected the most and result inMalnutrition(Undernutrition), Iron deficiency anemia, learning problems and Gastro-intestinal disturbances.Malnutrition(undernutrition)may manifestin four broad forms: undernutrition, wasting, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies. WHO defines ‘wasting’ as low weight-for-height. It often indicates recent and severe weight loss, although it can also persist for a long time. Wasting in children is associated with a higher risk of death if not treated properly.Thiscommunity based, cross sectionalstudy was aimed at determiningthe prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestations andtheir impact on the nutritional status, among pre-school children in Skardu, Pakistan.Material and Methods: A sample of 300 pre-school children was selected through convenience sampling. The demographic data was collected from the parents of children. The intestinal parasites were identified in the stool samples. The pediatric weight scale was used to measure the recumbent weight and the adult weight machine was used to measure the standing weight. The cut off limit for wasting wasset at < -2SD of weight-for-age z score.Results: The prevalence of A.Lumbricoides, Cryptosporidium, H.Nana and Giardiawas noted to be22.33%, 14%, 9.3% and 8.0% respectively. Out of 300 preschool children,47(15.7%) were found to be wasted. Out of wasted children, majority (35 children) were infested with some kind of intestinal parasite. This difference wasstatistically significant (p-value 0.001845).Conclusion: In this study, we foundsignificant prevalence ofintestinalparasitic infestationin pre-school children of Skardu vis visand its impact on the nutritional status. It is suggestedthat health promotion strategies should be developed, not only to control the intestinalparasitic infestations but also to improve the nutritionalstatus of pre-school children. KeyWords: Hymenolepis Nana, Ascaris lumbricoides, Cryptosporidium, Giardia
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4407330405