Intestinal parasitic infection, anemia and B12 deficiency among schoolchildren in Nigeria: an epidemiological study

Abstract

AbstractBackground:Intestinal parasites,anemia and B12 deficiency are common public health problems among school-aged children, especially in a rural settlements predisposing them to several health problems and other diseases. This research assesses the parasitic infections among children under 12 years, anemia and micronutrient deficiency of the participants.Methods:This epidemiological study included 150 primary school children from 3 schools randomly selected in Elemere, a poor rural area in Kwara State, Nigeria. Their stool were collected and examined for intestinal parasites. 5ml venous blood was extracted to check forHb levels. Vitamin B12 levels of the anemic participants were determined using ELISA.Results:The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 24%, with the most common parasite asAscarisat 94.4%. Those having anemia (Hb<11.9g/dL) was 28.7%. Parasitic infection was significantly associated with hemoglobin level0.000at P-value <0.005. 30.2% of anemic participants had B12 deficiency.Conclusion:Intestinal parasites, especiallyAscariasisare highly prevalent among the school-aged children studied. Anemia is also highly prevalent with a significant association to the presence of intestinal parasites. Vitamin B12 deficiency is high among the anemic children. Further investigation needs to be carried out to determine if any relationship exists between the three variables among the population studied.