INTESTINAL HELMINTHES AMONG CHILDREN IN ORPHANAGES IN SOME PARTS OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

This study was carried  out in four orphanage homes in Kaduna and Zaria, Nigeria to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections among the subjects aged 0-16 years. Stool specimens and Scotch tape swabs were collected and processed according to standard parasitological techniques. Out of the ninety (90) specimens collected, 57 (63.3%) were positive for intestinal helminthes and 33(36.7%) were negative. The age group  of 4-10 years had the highest prevalence of 43.8% while the children less than 1 year had the least prevalence of 5.27%. Infection with Ascaris lumbricoides  was the highest (45.6%) while the least was observed for Ancylostoma spp and Taenia spp respectively(1.75%).Other helminthes recovered were Schistosoma mansoni (7.01%), Trichuris trichiura (22.8%), and Vampirolepsis nana((7.01%),. Polyparasitism was observed among the children with Ascaris lumbricoides  + Trichuris trichiura (3.3%), the TRIAD- Ascaris lumbricoides  + Trichuris trichiura + Hookworm (3.3%), Trichuris trichiura and hookworm (2.2% ).Others included Schistosoma mansoni + Trichuris   trichiura (1.1%),Hookworm and  Trichuris trichiura (1.1%).Prevalence rates of intestinal helminth infections among the males were higher (54.3%) than in females (45.6%).Routine examination of stool specimens of children in orphanage  homes will significantly benefit the orphans by encouraging appropriate health authorities to embark on mass chemotherapy for this vulnerable group in the Nigerian communities.