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Abstract
Giardiasis is a disease of public health importance, a common cause of acute and chronic human diarrheal. In some developing countries, infection and mortality rates among young children can be quite high. This study was carried out to determine Giardia lamblia infection among children in rural and urban areas in Benin City, Edo State, A comparative study was done, using the microscopy method and ELISA technique, 288 primary school children consisted of (194) males and (94) females were enrolled in this study, Stool specimen was collected from each participant into a sterile universal bottle and sent for analysis to the
laboratory department of City of Hope Medical Centre, Benin city. The age of participants ranged from 6-14years. A well-structured questionnaire bothering on the bio-data and socio-demographic characteristics was administered on each
participant prior to the collection of Specimen. Informed consent was obtained from the parent or guardian of each participant. The stool specimens were analyzed using microscopy and ELISA technique. A prevalence of 5.6% of Giardia lamblia infection was observed among children in the Study Areas. Comparative studies of the microscopy method and ELISA techniques showed a
p-value of < 0.05 (0.001) which was significant. There was a significant difference in the age group 10-11 years old presenting with the highest prevalence of 13.7% in comparison to other age groups with p-value < 0.05 (0.014). Hand hygiene was highly prevalent (12.5%) with p-value <0.05(0.000) which was significant, which showed that those who observed poor hand hygiene are with the high odds of being infected than those who practice good hand hygiene. Epidemiological factors such as Residential locations, settlement type, type of toilet, proximity of kitchen to toilet facility, diarrhoea, and Food source significantly affected the prevalence of G. lamblia infection. Increased Awareness, personal hygiene and good sanitary practices, particularly among mothers and children, should be encouraged as this would curb the spread of giardiasis. ELISA with sensitivity of 95% to 100% and specificity over 90% when compared with direct microscopy provides a relevant alternative method to the routine ova and
parasite examination in diagnosing giardiasis. Based on this, detection of giardiasis should not solely be based on microscopy; more effective methods such as ELISA could be employed.
laboratory department of City of Hope Medical Centre, Benin city. The age of participants ranged from 6-14years. A well-structured questionnaire bothering on the bio-data and socio-demographic characteristics was administered on each
participant prior to the collection of Specimen. Informed consent was obtained from the parent or guardian of each participant. The stool specimens were analyzed using microscopy and ELISA technique. A prevalence of 5.6% of Giardia lamblia infection was observed among children in the Study Areas. Comparative studies of the microscopy method and ELISA techniques showed a
p-value of < 0.05 (0.001) which was significant. There was a significant difference in the age group 10-11 years old presenting with the highest prevalence of 13.7% in comparison to other age groups with p-value < 0.05 (0.014). Hand hygiene was highly prevalent (12.5%) with p-value <0.05(0.000) which was significant, which showed that those who observed poor hand hygiene are with the high odds of being infected than those who practice good hand hygiene. Epidemiological factors such as Residential locations, settlement type, type of toilet, proximity of kitchen to toilet facility, diarrhoea, and Food source significantly affected the prevalence of G. lamblia infection. Increased Awareness, personal hygiene and good sanitary practices, particularly among mothers and children, should be encouraged as this would curb the spread of giardiasis. ELISA with sensitivity of 95% to 100% and specificity over 90% when compared with direct microscopy provides a relevant alternative method to the routine ova and
parasite examination in diagnosing giardiasis. Based on this, detection of giardiasis should not solely be based on microscopy; more effective methods such as ELISA could be employed.
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