Asymptomatic Salmonella, Shigella and Intestinal Parasites Among Primary School Children in the Eastern Province

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of some potential entropathogens among primary school children. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted, on a sampled population of3258 primary school going children in the age group of 6-11 years. They were investigated for the presence of some potential enteropathogens in their stools. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of enteropathogens was 10.44 percent. Salmonella and Shigella species were found among 114 percent children. Multiple drug resistance was common in the isolated species of Salmonella and Shigella with ma exception of Nalidixic acid and cephalothin in Shigella. The prevalence rate of parasitic infection was 9.30%. The most common parasite found was giardia lambia, 8.16 percent, and next most common was Entamoeba histolytica 0.74%, followed by other parasites: (Hemenolepis nana, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuira and Enterobious vermicularis, in order of their frequencies). CONCLUSION: This study lays emphasis on the importance of asymptomatic carriers as a potential source of infection and demonstrates the emergence of resistance in salmonella and Shigella species.