Prevalence of intestinal worm infestations among school children in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Intestinal worm infestation is one of the major childhood health problem in Nepal. This study was done to assess the prevalence of intestinal worm infestations among school children aged 6-16 years in a public high school in Kathmandu Nepal. A total of 142 stool samples from healthy students were collected and reported following formol-ether concentration technique. The overall prevalence of intestinal worm infestation was found to be 17.6% (Boys = 22.0% vs girls = 13.5%). Children aged 6-8 years were found to be highly infected with intestinal worms (21.4%) followed by 9-12 years old (18.6%). Those between 13-16 years of age were significantly less infected (10.7%) compared to others (p < 0.05). Ova/cysts of intestinal parasites detected include Trichuris trichiura (32.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (20.0%), Hymenolepis nana (16.0%), hookworm (8.0%) and 24.0% cases showed mixed parasitic infections.