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PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL AMOEBIASIS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abolarin, Raphael Kayode, Ajibola, Adebayo Thomas, Omodara, Anthony Mayowa

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Abstract

This research work had documented the prevalence of Intestinal Amoebiasis among primary school pupils in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Intestinal Amoebiasis, also known as Amoebiasis or Entamoebiasis, is an infection caused by any of the amoebas of the Entamoeba group. It is an infection of the intestines caused by the parasite – Entamoeba histolytica. It is an intestinal illness typically transmitted when someone eats or drink water that is contaminated with a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. In areas of endemic infection, a variety of conditions like ignorance, poverty, over-crowding, inadequate and contaminated water supplies and poor sanitation favour direct faecal–oral transmission of amoebas from one person to another. It is responsible for approximately 70,000 deaths annually and fourth leading causes of deaths. Children and pregnant women are mostly vulnerable to the infections. One thousand, six hundred (1,600) pupils were examined for the presence of intestinal parasitic infections. The samples were examined macroscopically and microscopically for the colour, consistency, blood, mucous, pus and the trophozoites, flagellates larvae, ciliates respectively. All the samples collected were examined using formal ether concentration techniques and this was able to differentiate the species of Entamoeba histolytica from other species of amoebeasis. Respondents were also interviewed using questionnaires to gather data on the factors that could lead to high prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica among them. The prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection among the primary school pupils surveyed was 7.9%.  It was also observed that 15% of the respondents drink water supplied through tap water, this could be attributed to the high prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica in Ikere-Ekiti compared with other Local Government Areas. The percentage prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica in Ekiti South Senatorial District was 8.5%, which is higher than the other two districts as a result of shortage of water supply to the district compared with other senatorial districts in Ekiti State. It was then observed that, there is no association between the age group and prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection among the school age children. Also, there is association between the gender (sex) of the school age children and prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection. The result shows that the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection among school age children in Ekiti State is low. However, the state Government should improve on the monthly Environmental sanitation exercise for the total eradication of the infection.

Keywords: Prevalence, Intestinal, Amoebiasis, Primary School, Pupils.