Prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminths among school children living in endemic area

Soil Transmitted Helminths are parasitic worms that feed on human tissue, blood or nutrients. These include hook worm, whip worm, thread worm and round worm that are transmitted through soil that is contaminated with their eggs of these worms due to open defecation and areas where sanitation is poor. Those at risk of this infection include preschool and school age children, women of childbearing age and men in some profession like mining. According to statistic about 1.5 billion people are infected with soil transmitted helminths (STH). Among which over 267 million are pre-school age children and over 568 million school-age children live in area where these parasites are intensively transmitted..
  Ages affected:
0-2 Very rare
3-5 Rare
6-13 Common
14-18 Common
19-40 Rare
41-60 Very rare
60+ Extremely rare.
OBJECTIVE
• To improve children’s health and prevention large scale morbidity in children living in endemic area.
• To enlighten the children the importance of regular washing of their hands after playing and before or after eating.
Mode of transmission
STH are transmitted by eggs that are passed in the feaces of infected people. Adult worms live in the intestine where they produce thousands of eggs each day. These can happen in several ways:
• Eggs that are attached to vegetables are ingested when vegetables are not properly cooked, washed or peeled.
• Eggs are ingested from contaminated water
• Eggs are ingested by children who play in the contaminated soil and then put their hands in their mouth without washing them.
• Hook worm eggs hatch in the soil releasing larvae that mature into a form that can penetrate the skin. People become infected with hookworm by walking barefoot on the soil.
Nutritional effects
• The worms feed on host tissues, including blood, which lead to a loss of iron and protein
• Hookworm cause chronic intestinal blood loss that can result in anemia
• They consume the nutrient and vitamins in the body which lead to malnutrition, low weight, loss of appetite which make children vulnerable to illnesses and damage of immune system
Symptoms of STH
• Intestinal manifestation (diarrhea and abdominal pain)
• Malnutrition
• General malaise
• Impaired growth and physical development
• Diarrhea
• Skin irritation
• Weakness and loss of appetite
Prevention
• Clean the house often and use a good disinfectant
• People should ensure to always relieve themselves in the toilet and avoid open defecation
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water before eating
• Always put on slippers or shoes avoid walking barefoot
• Cutting of fingernails regularly
• Children shouldn't play with sand or dirty water
• Children should play in a clean and dry environment
• Children should wash hands with soap and water before food and after using the toilet.
.The mebendazole and albendazole, are commonly used to remove these infections.