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Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Parasites Among Addis Alem Primary School Students, Dessie, Ethiopia

Received: 12 November 2025     Accepted: 24 November 2025     Published: 26 December 2025
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Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant public health concern among school-aged children in developing countries, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites among students at Addis Alem Primary School in Dessie, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 354 students aged 6–15 years. Stool samples were collected and examined using direct saline wet mount techniques. Data were analyzed for prevalence rates across age groups, genders, and parasite species. Result: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 3.95% (14/354). Hymenolepis nana was the most prevalent parasite (71.4% of infections), followed by Entamoeba histolytica, Schistosoma mansoni, Giardia lamblia, and Enterobius vermicularis (7.1% each). Age-specific analysis revealed the highest infection rate in the 12–15-year age group (10%) and the lowest in 8–10-year-olds (2.63%). Females had a higher infection rate (5.02%) than males (2.85%). Although the prevalence of IPIs in this study was lower than national estimates, the predominance of H. nana and higher infection rates among females and older students highlight the need for targeted interventions. Improved school-based deworming programs, enhanced water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and health education are recommended to reduce transmission and mitigate health impacts.

Published in Medicine and Health Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11
Page(s) 1-9
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Intestinal Parasites, Schoolchildren, Hymenolepis Nana, Prevalence, Ethiopia, WASH

References
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[2] World Health Organization. Soil-transmitted helminth infections. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023.
[3] Hotez PJ, Bundy DAP, Beegle K, Brooker S, Drake L, de Silva N, et al. Helminth infections: soil-transmitted helminth infections and schistosomiasis. In: Jamison DT, Breman JG, Measham AR, Alleyne G, Claeson M, Evans DB, et al., editors. Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. 2nd ed. Washington (DC): The World Bank; 2006.
[4] Alemu A, Tegegne Y, Damte D, Melku M. Prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated risk factors among primary school children in Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis. 2020 Jul 11; 20(1): 456.
[5] Sitotaw B, Shiferaw W. Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in Dera District, Northwest Ethiopia. J Parasitol Res. 2020 Apr 30; 2020: 8681247.
[6] World Health Organization. Soil-transmitted helminth infections. WHO; 2021.
[7] Brooker S, Clements ACA, Bundy DAP. Global epidemiology, ecology, and control of soil-transmitted helminth infections. Adv Parasitol. 2006; 62: 221-61.
[8] Alemu G, Mama M. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in Amhara region. BMC Infect Dis. 2019 Jul 5; 19(1): 457.
[9] Legesse M, Erko B. Prevalence of intestinal parasites among schoolchildren in a rural area close to Lake Langano, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev. 2004; 18(2): 116-20.
[10] Tadesse G. The prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections among school children in Babile town, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev. 2005; 19(2): 140-7.
[11] Tadesse Z, Hailemariam A, Kolaczinski JH. Potential for integrated control of neglected tropical diseases in Ethiopia. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Mar; 102(3): 213-4.
[12] Endris M, Lemma W, Belyhun Y, Moges B, Gelaw A, Angaw B. Prevalence of intestinal parasites in Northwest Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2010 Jul; 20(2): 93-100.
[13] Cheesbrough M. District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries, Part 1. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press; 2005.
[14] Erismann S, Diagbouga S, Odermatt P, Knoblauch AM, Gerold J, Shrestha A, et al. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among school-aged children in Burkina Faso. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Sep; 97(3): 893-901.
[15] Speich B, Croll D, Fürst T, Utzinger J, Keiser J. Effect of sanitation and water treatment on intestinal protozoa infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016 Jan; 16(1): 87-99.
[16] Tadege B, Mekonnen Z, Dana D, Sharew B, Mohammed T, Loha E, et al. Differential effect of mass deworming and targeted deworming for soil-transmitted helminth control in school-aged children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2022 Apr 2; 399(10333): 1298-308.
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  • APA Style

    Awol, L. S., Ali, I. E., Mohammed, M., Mohammed, K. S., Tesho, T. H., et al. (2025). Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Parasites Among Addis Alem Primary School Students, Dessie, Ethiopia. Medicine and Health Sciences, 2(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11

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    ACS Style

    Awol, L. S.; Ali, I. E.; Mohammed, M.; Mohammed, K. S.; Tesho, T. H., et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Parasites Among Addis Alem Primary School Students, Dessie, Ethiopia. Med. Health Sci. 2025, 2(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11

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    AMA Style

    Awol LS, Ali IE, Mohammed M, Mohammed KS, Tesho TH, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Parasites Among Addis Alem Primary School Students, Dessie, Ethiopia. Med Health Sci. 2025;2(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11,
      author = {Lubaba Seid Awol and Ismail Ebrie Ali and Mekonnen Mohammed and Kewser Seid Mohammed and Tilahun Haile Tesho and Birhanu Getahun and Hanan Getahun Yimam and Arebu Gashaw Yimer and Kalkidan Teklu Demissie and Yesuf Ebrahim Adem and Mohammed Kassa Mohammed and Mulugeta Teshome},
      title = {Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Parasites Among Addis Alem Primary School Students, Dessie, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Medicine and Health Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-9},
      doi = {10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mhs.20260201.11},
      abstract = {Background: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant public health concern among school-aged children in developing countries, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites among students at Addis Alem Primary School in Dessie, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 354 students aged 6–15 years. Stool samples were collected and examined using direct saline wet mount techniques. Data were analyzed for prevalence rates across age groups, genders, and parasite species. Result: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 3.95% (14/354). Hymenolepis nana was the most prevalent parasite (71.4% of infections), followed by Entamoeba histolytica, Schistosoma mansoni, Giardia lamblia, and Enterobius vermicularis (7.1% each). Age-specific analysis revealed the highest infection rate in the 12–15-year age group (10%) and the lowest in 8–10-year-olds (2.63%). Females had a higher infection rate (5.02%) than males (2.85%). Although the prevalence of IPIs in this study was lower than national estimates, the predominance of H. nana and higher infection rates among females and older students highlight the need for targeted interventions. Improved school-based deworming programs, enhanced water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and health education are recommended to reduce transmission and mitigate health impacts.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Parasites Among Addis Alem Primary School Students, Dessie, Ethiopia
    AU  - Lubaba Seid Awol
    AU  - Ismail Ebrie Ali
    AU  - Mekonnen Mohammed
    AU  - Kewser Seid Mohammed
    AU  - Tilahun Haile Tesho
    AU  - Birhanu Getahun
    AU  - Hanan Getahun Yimam
    AU  - Arebu Gashaw Yimer
    AU  - Kalkidan Teklu Demissie
    AU  - Yesuf Ebrahim Adem
    AU  - Mohammed Kassa Mohammed
    AU  - Mulugeta Teshome
    Y1  - 2025/12/26
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11
    T2  - Medicine and Health Sciences
    JF  - Medicine and Health Sciences
    JO  - Medicine and Health Sciences
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 9
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mhs.20260201.11
    AB  - Background: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant public health concern among school-aged children in developing countries, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites among students at Addis Alem Primary School in Dessie, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 354 students aged 6–15 years. Stool samples were collected and examined using direct saline wet mount techniques. Data were analyzed for prevalence rates across age groups, genders, and parasite species. Result: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 3.95% (14/354). Hymenolepis nana was the most prevalent parasite (71.4% of infections), followed by Entamoeba histolytica, Schistosoma mansoni, Giardia lamblia, and Enterobius vermicularis (7.1% each). Age-specific analysis revealed the highest infection rate in the 12–15-year age group (10%) and the lowest in 8–10-year-olds (2.63%). Females had a higher infection rate (5.02%) than males (2.85%). Although the prevalence of IPIs in this study was lower than national estimates, the predominance of H. nana and higher infection rates among females and older students highlight the need for targeted interventions. Improved school-based deworming programs, enhanced water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and health education are recommended to reduce transmission and mitigate health impacts.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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