Intestinal parasites in University of Dacca students
Muttalib, M.A.; Islam, N.; Ghani, J.A.; Khan, K.; Azizullah, A.; Islam, B.
Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 78(10-11): 224-226
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5304 PMID: 1214308 Document Number: 85755
Intestinal parasites were detected in single stool specimens from 533 of 930 students newly admitted to Dacca University, Bangladesh. Ascaris lumbricoides was found in 366, hookworms in 65, Trichuris trichiura in 99, Strongyloides stercoralis in 3 and Hymenolepis nana in 3. Double infections were common, especially A.lumbricoides with T.trichiura (34 students) and hookworms (16). It is suggested that chronic nutritional deficiencies are compounded by these infections, leading to low weights and low haemoglobin levels. Of 930 studients in Bangladesh, 123 were found by faecal examination to be infected with Entamoeba histolytica, 29 with E. coli, 3 with Iodamoeba buetschlii, 3 with Trichomonas hominis and 10 with Giardia lamblia. Intestinal parasites are thought to aggravate malnutrition.