Intestinal parasitoses and the nutritional status of internally displaced children in Vavuniya

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and the nutritional status of children of internally displaced families residing in refugee camps. MeTHODOLOGY: Saline smears and modified Kato Katz techniques were performed on stool samples collected from children of displaced families residing in the Adappankulam refugee camp in Vavuniya. The heights and weights of the children were measured and standard anthropometric indices, weight- for-height (WH), Height- for- age (HA) and weight- for- age (WA) Z scores were calculated using Epi Info. RESULTS: Stool samples of 159(83 males) of 200 children registered at Adappankulam refugee camp were screened for intestinal parasites. The mean age of the study population was 7.0 years (range 2-15 years). One or more intestinal parasites were detected in 40.25 % (64/159). Twenty point one percent had helminth and 24.5% (39) had protozoan infection. Of 32 children with helminth infections, 29(18.2%) had hook worm, 2(1.25%) Ascaris lumbricoides, 3 (1.8%) Trichuris trichiura and 1(0.62%) Enterobius .vermicularis infections. The most common pathogens were hookworm and Giardia lamblia (23, 14.5%). The anthropometric indices of 161 children (100 males) were calculated. Of the 105(65.2%) children with growth retardation, 76(47.7%) were wasted 56(34.7%) stunted and 122(75.7%) underweight. There was no significant correlation of the mean Z scores with Giardia or hookworm infection. CONCLUSIONS: There was an elevated prevalence of growth retardation among this group of displaced children. The prevalence of'Giardia and hookworm infections was moderately high. Other pathogenic intestinal parasites were scarce in this community.