Intestinal Parasitic Infections of School Children in Kwale District of Coast Province, Kenya

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the geographical distribution of intestinal parasitic infection in Kwale district, Kenya in 1981. Stool specimens were obtained from the school children and were examined for the presence of both helminth ova and protozoan cysts. Entamoeba coli, Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura were found to be common in the area. The prevalence of ascariasis and trichuriasis showed similar geographical distribution among divisions. The prevalence were high in both Central and Southhern but relatively low in Kinango and Kubo divisions. However, the geographical distribution of prevalence of E. coli and hookworm infections were different from those of ascariasis and trichuriasis. These results might reflect the differences of the population densities, the water sources and the sanitary conditions.