Abstract

     Intestinal parasites are considered one of the microbes that cause various diseases for humans all over the world. This study was conducted on stool samples of children suffering from abdominal symptoms and attending some laboratories of public hospitals and some private laboratories in some districts of Lahaj governorate. The study included children whose ages ranged from 2-14 years who were suspected of being infected with intestinal parasites and who were suffering from digestive symptoms such as diarrhea. To determine the prevalence of some types of intestinal parasites. 825 stool samples were collected during the time period from January to December 2020. The study samples were examined using the macroscopic and microscopy examination methods.

    The results showed that the total infection rate with intestinal parasites was about 52,49%. It also showed that males are more affected than females as the rate of male infection was (53.96%), and the percentage of female infection was 50.98%. Nine types of intestinal parasites were recorded and divided into two groups. The first group included protozoa, where the highest rate of infection of Entamoeba histolytica was recorded (37,64%), followed by Giardia lamblia with an infection rate of (28,87%), different types of amoebae spp., with a percentage of 5.08%, and  Cryptosporidium spp., with 1.62%. The second group of parasites are worms it and included Ascaris lumbricoides with a percentage of 13.63%, pinworms Enterobius vermicularis with a percentage of 7.85%, then Hymenolepis nana with a percentage of 4.39%, followed by the whipworm Trichuris trichiura and the bovine tapeworm Tinea saginata with a percentage of 00. 46% for each of them. The results also showed that the highest infection rate was recorded in May, with the infection rate reaching 76.34%, while the lowest infection rate was 10.53 percent in December. The results of the study also showed that the age group (8-10 years) was the most infected, with a percentage of 95.1%, and the age group (12-14 years) was the least infected, with intestinal parasites by 35.63%. The infection rate in rural areas was 56.61 percent, higher than the rate of infection in urban areas, (48.99 percent) and the rate of single injury was 73,44%, which is the highest of the rest of the injuries.

   Stool samples collected from children showed a high prevalence of intestinal parasites and, therefore, necessary measures, such as health education, awareness creation and medical care, especially among children, should be taken to mitigate these infections. We recommend the Yemeni Ministry of Health to do its duty by making use of this research and working with its recommendations.