PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS AMONG THE PATIENT VISITING SUB REGIONAL HOSPITAL OF DADELDHURA,FAR WESTERN REGION,NEPAL

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections still constitutes one of the major public health problems in Nepal. Present study was done to find out the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in patients visiting Sub Regional Hospital, Dadeldhura, Nepal. A total of 480 stool samples were collected from March 2016 to June 2017. The samples were collected in clean, dry and screw capped plastic container and were subjected to macroscopic examination for adult parasites and/or segment of parasites. Samples fixed in 10% formal-saline and parasites were examined microscopically after concentration by formal ether sedimentation technique. Overall parasite prevalence was 10.63% with no significant difference between male (5%) and female (5.63%). The percentage of single parasitosis (98.4%) was higher than multiparasitism (1.96%). Altogether 6 species of parasites were detected of them. Entamoeba histolytica was most common followed by Giardia lamblia. Patients (aged ≤ 10 years) had marginally higher positive rate (52.3%) than older patients. Prevalence of parasitic infection rate was higher in family with low education. The parasitic prevalence rate was higher among patients using normal tap water. Results showed that majority of patients had intestinal parasitosis and thus suggests periodic deworming as well as sanitary hygienic practices.