Abstract
Objectives: Prevalence of malnutrition in AJK is very high in children between the age of 5-14 years and
research based information about these health problems are generally lacking in school going children. The
purpose of the present study was to find out the relationship between malnutrition and worm infestation in
school going children.
Methodology: The study was carried out in Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Muzaffarabad. Total
1902 students from nine Government schools of Muzaffarabad of age 5-14 were examined. Among these, 200
children were found with 3rd degree malnourished excluding children who were suffering from chronic diseases.
Weight and height of the students was recorded. Stool samples of the students were collected and examined
within one hour of collection under direct light microscope.
Results: Among these 200 students, 130 (65%) were found to have ova of one or more types of worms. Among
the total population 190(10%) were having worm infestation. The male and female ratio for positive stool test was
almost equal. Ova of the seven different types of worms were found in stool of infested students. By for the most
common was Tenea (21%) and H-Nana (20%) species. Other species found were Hook worm (20%), Ascaris
lumbricoides (12%), Trichoris Tricura (11%), Enterobius Vermicularis (10%) and Giardia Lamblia (6%). The
relationship between worm infestation and malnutrition was found highly significant (p<.001). Among
malnourished students, 65% were having worm infestation whereas only 6% of well-nourished children have
worm infestation. The results pertaining to socio-economic status and malnutrition pointed out that the student
having low socio economic status were more malnourished (96%) as compare to upper class (4%) p<.001. The
relationship between malnutrition and safe water supply highlighted that the student having safe water supply
were less malnourished (p<.001). Among the infested students, 84% falls under the category that depends on
open field excreta disposal.
Conclusions: Prevalence of worm infestation was quite high in severely malnourished school going children
and the most common worm infestation in our study was Tenea Saginata and H-Nana.
Dr. Muhammad Mateen khan, Abdul Khalid Awan, Raja Muhammad Arif Khan, Naveed Ahmed, Wafa Hussain, Muhammad Asif Khan. (2017) Prevalence of Worm Infestation and Malnutrition in School going Children and risk factors responsible for Worm Infestation, International Journal of Pathology, Vol-15, Issue 1.
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