Original Research Control of Intestinal Parasites among Children in Two Communities of South Saint Lucia

Objective: To determine the epidemiology and control of intestinal parasitic infection among children in two communities of south Saint Lucia. Methods: Eight hundred ninety seven children participated in this study. Parasitic infections were confirmed by two stool examinations using the Kato Katz method and the mini-parasep concentration method. Control methods used were treatment of all infected children and awareness campaigns. Praziquantel (40 mg/kg) for schistosomiasis and albendazole (400mg) were used for treatment of intestinal parasites. The efficacy rate following treatment was determined as the percentage of children with two fecal samples negative by Kato Katz and the miniparasep methods. Results: The overall prevalence rate of various parasitic infections was 52.2% (468 of 897), 44.0% (n=395) were infected with a single parasitic infection and 8.1% (n=73) with mixed infections. Within protozoan infection, Giardia lamblia was the most commonly identified pathogenic parasite (2.6%) and Entamoeba coli was the most commonly identified non pathogenic parasite (10.9%). Prevalence of helminthic infection showed Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm infestations with higher prevalence, 11.7% and 11.6% respectively. The rate of infection after control intervention using drug treatment and education campaigns reduced from 52.2% to 2.0%, a cure rate of 96.2%. Conclusion: This study has identified prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasitic infection among children in two communities of Saint Lucia and the use of albendazole and praziquantel as an effective tool in reducing the intestinal parasitic infection. Health education also had a positive impact on the study population in reducing transmission and re-infection of intestinal parasites.