Uzodimma CE, Ojinnaka NC, Chukwunedum AU and Anthony NI
Background: Reports show that children with chronic neurological disorders (CNDs) are more prone to helminthic infestation. Major risk factors for high levels of intestinal helminthiasis such as poverty, personal hygiene and poor living conditions are common in developing countries. This study is undertaken to determine the prevalence and pattern of intestinal helminthiasis in children with CNDs in Enugu.
Methods: A total of 130 children with CNDs matched with controls were consecutively recruited. Stool samples of the children were collected and analyzed using the formolether concentration method. Worm load was determined using Stoll's technique. Student t-test was used to compare the mean age of infected subjects and controls and Chi square test for significant association of categorical variables. Statistical tests were done at the 5% level of significance and p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis among children with CNDs was 8.5% compared to 12.3% among the control group (p = 0.309). The specific intestinal helminths detected were Ascaris lumbricoides in 10 (7.7%) subjects and Trichuris trichiura in one (0.8%) subject. The mean age of subjects (6.5 ± 3.9 years) and controls (6.4 ± 3.6 years) infested with helminths compared favourably (t = 0.017, p = 0.90). There were more males (63.6%) than females (36.4%) who were infested. All infested study participants had low intensity infestation ranging from 10-60 eggs per gram of faeces. Infestation was more common in the lower and middle socio-economic classes. Method of human waste disposal, personnal hygiene, and habits such as finger sucking, nail-biting and pica did not influence the prevalence of helminthiasis in the study groups.
Conclusion: There is a low prevalence of helminthic infestation among children with chronic neurologic disorders in Enugu. This may imply that these children are not neglected in our environment as often reported
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