Helminth Associated Infections Among Residents of Karachi

Abstract

Background: Parasitic Helminth parasite affects approximately 2 million individuals yearly throughout the world. These infections are extremely important while often receive inadequate consideration. Helminths are among the gastrointestinal parasites mainly involved in an increased ratio of inflammatory bowel disease, especially in underdeveloped and developed countries.

Objectives: To study the prevalence of helminth eggs in stool samples collected from five hospitals of Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi, Sindh among different age groups of male and female patients, the targeted age groups were < 1-14, 15-40 and > 40 yrs.

Methodology: All the samples included in the study, were collected according to ethical review board policy of the participating hospital. Stool Samples were obtained from a total of 1042 patients, of which 198 samples were found to be positive for helminth eggs. The helminths included were Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenales and Hymenolepis nana. The association between helminth infection (A. lumbricoides, A. duodenale and H. nana) and age group was found to be significant.

Results: Data was structured into male and female, and the association between sex and the intensity of infection gave highly significant results based on the chi-square test. Males showed a noticeable prevalence of helminths than females. Single, double and triple infections were also recorded.

Conclusion: Present study could be very beneficial for developing programs not only for awareness in the urban and rural population but also for the control of infections due to helminths in Pakistan.