Umeh Nneka
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Unigwe Ifeanyi
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Iloh Ogechukwu
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
A total of 500 fecal samples of school-aged females between the ages of 10-14 years were examined for the presence of eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides by the normal saline direct thin smear technique. The female students were from 8 different secondary schools on the rural periphery of Awka, an urban capital of Anambra State, in Eastern Nigeria. Out of 500 students examined, 65 were positive giving an overall percentage of 13. On observation of the occurrence of worms according to the ages of the female students, it was found that higher percentages of 20 and 21 occurred with the ages of 10 and 11, respectively. The incidence of the worms in girls that were 12, 13 and 14 years were 12, 6 and 6%. Incidence of infection decreased with increasing age. Education, better personal hygiene and raised environmental sanitation in schools were proffered as solutions to the occurrence of the worms. Also, adequate provision of potable water would seem to greatly reduce the risk of infection of the worms.
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How to cite this article
Umeh Nneka, Unigwe Ifeanyi and Iloh Ogechukwu, 2005. Ascaris Worms in School-aged Female Children: A Water Based Problem in Rural Eastern Nigeria. Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 398-401.
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2005.398.401
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2005.398.401
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2005.398.401
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2005.398.401
REFERENCES
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