DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2018.v06i07.004

Pages: 500-505

Ascariasis and Schistosomiasis are among the socio-economically devastating diseases in Nigeria. Investigation on the status of Ascaris and Schistosoma infections in pupils of two public primary schools in Gwagwalada was carried out between February and March. Four hundred and two urine and stool samples were collected randomly using clean and sterilized containers and examined using formal ether concentration method for stool samples and centrifugation separation method for the urine samples. The result obtained showed that 10.20% were positive for Schistosoma infection while 10.95% were positive for Ascaris infection. Infection rate of the Ascaris and Schistosoma infections were higher in the Old Kutunku primary school, 15.39% and 15.87% when compared with that of the UBE primary school, 6.19% and 4.12% respectively. However, for Ascaris infection, there is no significant difference in the rate of infection in both schools (p=0.099) while there is significant difference in Schistosoma infection (p=0.000). The females were found to be more infected in both infections (11.11% and 10.80%) than the males (10.67% and 9.21%) respectively. The chi square analysis, however, showed no significant difference in the overall prevalence of both infections in relation to sex (Ascaris: p= 0.885 and Schistosoma: p=0.770). Age range 11-15 had the highest infection rate (11.72% and 13.70%). Based on these findings, efforts to eliminate these neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through increased health education and practical personal hygiene in our primary schools must be intensified.