PREVALENCE OF PARASITIC INFESTATION IN CHILDREN OF RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF DISTRICT VEHARI

ABSTRACT

In South Punjab, poor hygiene and poor sanitation conditions is common feature of all rural and urban areas. Clean drinking water is not available to most of the population. Diahorea, malnutrition, malabsorption and anaemia are common complaints in children of this area.  Keeping in view these public health problems, a study on parasitic infestation among children of rural and urban areas of District Vehari was done. Five hundred children of age 1-10 years were included in this study to find frequency of parasitic infestation and its relationship with Residential area, gender, Socio-economic status, Hygienic conditions, Quality of drinking water, Source of Water and Anemia was analyzed. Parents of these children were interviewed, stool and blood samples of children were collected for laboratory investigation of parasites and to find anemia respectively. Parasites were found in 140 (28%) children and anemia in 236 (47%) children. About 40-50% of children had complaint of diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and abdominal distention. Rural area, Socio-economic status, Hygienic conditions, Quality of drinking water and Source of Water had positive role in parasitic infestation. This problem can be controlled and prevented by the improvement in hygiene, sanitation and assuring the availability of clean drinking water