Prevalence and Risk Factors of Entamoeba histolytica amongst Children Attending Primary Schools in Kyuso Zone, Kyuso District, Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

The occurrence of Entamoeba histolytica as a human intestinal parasite is a serious problem especially in developing countries. Entamoeba histolytica frequently infects as a commensal within the human large intestine with no overt clinical manifestations. However, trophozoites can invade the colonic epithelium and produce ulcers and dysentery, a condition known as Amoebiasis. Amoebic infections in Kyuso Zone, Kyuso District are common. The ecological aspects in the area and particularly water-related ones allow endemicity. There have been efforts to provide treatment and control of amoebic infections but the prevalence of the disease in this area has never been established. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of E. histolytica in school children aged 6-12 years in Kyuso Zone and establish the relationship between the prevalence and risk factors. A cross-sectional study design was used where 354 randomly selected pupils aged 6-12 years provided stool specimen which were taken to Kyuso District Hospital Laboratory for examination. There was no significant association between prevalence and gender (χ²=0.9653, df=1, P>0.05) and no significant association between prevalence and age (χ²=3.5649, df=2, P>0.05). A significant association was found between the use of dry riverbed wells and high prevalence (OR= 2.351, P=0.02) and the use of earth dam water and high prevalence (OR=2.828, P=0.0000). A significant association was found between high prevalence and use of latrines (χ²=4.7199, df=1, P=0.0298). In this study there was a clear indication that E. histolytica infections are a problem in schools in Kyuso Zone. It is therefore recommended to the ministry of education and the ministry of Public health that public health education programmes should be formulated and carried out in schools and within the community so as to inform people of good sanitation and hence reduce infections and morbidity. It is further suggested that school children be considered for chemotherapy treatment to reduce morbidity.