Study of incidence of helminthic infestation in children aged 1 to 15 years attending to a tertiary care hospital

Background: Helminthic infestation is common in children because of their habits and opportunity for exposure. The present study was undertaken in the Narayana Hospital, Nellore to determine the incidence of various helminthes, the symptomatology and clinical manifestations of various helminthes and to correlate type of helminthic infestation. Material and methods: This is a prospective study, was done in 1 to 15 years children who attended O P D or admitted to the pediatric ward, Narayana Hospital, Nellore. The material for the study comprises of 500 children’s, who attended OPD or admitted to the Pediatric ward belonging to 1 to 15 years age groups. A detailed clinical examination including stool examination was done for all the 500 children. Blood examination was done for knowing the degree of anemia. Results and discussion: Out of 500 children examined in various age groups, 275 children’s were found to be positive for one or other helminthic ova in the stool samples examined giving an overall incidence of 55%. Number of stool samples examined Number of stool samples infested with Helminths. Out of 500 children examined, 235 were males and 265 were females, of which 130 males and 145 females were found to be infested for one or other helminthic ova. Out of 500 stool examples examined 275 were positive for one or other helminthic ova, 160 were positive for ascariasis, 20 were positive for Hookworm, 40 were positive for Trichuris trichura, 10 were positive for hymenolepis nana and 5 was positive for Taenia infestation. Out of 500 children studied, 130 children belong to class V Socio ?economic class, 150 children belong to class IV socio ? economic class, 120 children belong to class III Socio ? economic class and 100 children belong to class II Socio ? economic class, giving a percentage of infestation according to socio ?economic class as 80% in class V, 63.3% in class IV, 41.7% in class ? III and 30% in class II respectively. Anemia in hookworm infestation was of mild degree in all 15 children. Anemia in mixed infestation was of mild degree in 20 children and moderate degree in 5 children. Out of 500 children studied 300 children had normal nutritional status a nd positive percentage of helminthic infestation in them was 26.7%, 140 children had Grade ? I malnutrition and positive percentage of helminthic infestation in them 96.4. 40 children had Grade-II and 20 children had Grade ? III malnutrition. Positive percentage of helminthic infestation in Grade ? II and Grade ? III malnutrition was found to be 100%. Conclusion: This study confirms the finding of the other authors all over India regarding helminthic infestations in respect to epidemiology, clinical manifestations and relation with nutritional status. There was a high co-relation with poor nutritional status.