Helminthic infestation of the primary school-going children in Manipur.

A total of 1010 stool samples collected from the primary school-going children between the age group of 5 to 10 years from September 1998 to October 2000, were studied to find out the prevalence of intestinal helminths in this paediatric age group and in the urban and rural areas of Manipur. The samples were processed in the Microbiology Department, RIMS, Imphal by wet film, iodine preparation and concentration techniques (formol-ether concentration) to find out the presence of eggs, larvae of the intestinal parasites (helminths). A total of 248 (24.5%) were positive for various helminths. Among the positive cases, 110 (26.3%) were from the urban area (city) and 138 (23.4%) from the rural areas of Manipur. Of the 552 males and 458 females tested, 136 (24.6%) males and 112 (24.5%) females respectively were positive for various helminths. Maximum number of parasitic infection occurred in the age group of 5 to 6 years (27.0%) in both sexes. Among the parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides was the commonest (19.6%) followed by Trichuris trichiura (2.18%), Hymenolepis nana (0.99%), Tapeworm (0.19%), Hookworm (0.09%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.09%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.09%). Mixed infection of Ascaris lumbricoides with T. trichiura (1.08), T. trichiura with E. vermicularis (0.09%) and T. trichiura with S. stercoralis (0.09) were also encountered. Antihelminthic drugs were prescribed to those who were found positive for the helminths.