PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL HELMINTHIASIS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN IN WADIDHAHAR DISTRICT AT SANA’A GOVERNORATE, YEMEN

Abstract

Objectives: Allergy and parasitic infections are common causes of blood eosinophilia. Intestinal helminthiasis remains a major health problem in many developing countries. Eosinophils are an effector immune cell against parasites.The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis and eosinophilia among primary schoolchildren in WadiDhahr district, Sana’a governorate, Yemen.

Subjects and methods: Four hundred and fourteen pupils were enrolled in this study. Blood and stool samples were collected from each pupil. Stool samples were examined using Hoffman’s sedimentation method for the presence of worms’ ova.Blood smears were stained with Giemsa stain and used for counting the eosinophils’ percentages.

Results: Out of 414 specimens, the prevalence of intestinal helminths infections was 79(19%) among schoolchildren; (52 (18%) males and 27 (21%) females). Eosinophilia was 134 (32%) observed in the participated pupils; 86 (30%) males and 48 (37%) females. The age group 5-10 years had the highest frequent rate of eosinophilia with a statistically significant difference (χ² = 10.4, P = 0.002) and 60% of infected students with intestinal worms had eosinophilia (χ² = 32.8, P< 0.001). Females had a higher rate of eosinophilia than males. The most common helminthiasis infections were hymenolepiasis (10.6%) followed by ascariasis (4.1%), enterobiasis (2.7%), and taeniasis (2.4%). The high rate of eosinophilia was recorded among students infected with Ascaris lumbricoides (82%) followed by Enterobius vermicularis (73%), Trichuristrichiura(67%), Hymenolepis nana (59%), and Taeniasaginata (30%).

Conclusions: Intestinal helminthiasis still a common health problem among schoolchildrenin WadiDhahar district at Sana’a governorate, Yemen, and was found to be associated with high blood eosinophils. Eosinophilia was statistically significant among students infected with ascariasis, hymenolepiasis, and enterobiasis but not with taeniasis and trichuriasis.

                          

Peer Review History:

Received 5 June 2020; Revised 13 July; Accepted 24 August; Available online 15 September 2020

Academic Editor: Dr. Nuray Arı, Ankara University, Turkiye, ari@ankara.edu.tr

Received file:                Reviewer's Comments:

Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10

Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10

Reviewer(s) detail:

Dr. Wadhah Hassan Edrees, Hajjah University, Yemen, edress2020@gmail.com

Omnia Momtaz Al-Fakharany, Tanta University, Egypt, amina.elfakharany@pharm.tanta.edu.eg