Pattern of intestinal parasites among hosptial patients at Ile-Ife

Intestinal and extraintestinal parasitic diseases continue to constitute important public health problems in many developing African countries. While malaria continues to ravage the continent, the silent onslaught of intestinal helminthiases and protozoal infection seem not to relent. The objectives of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthic and protozoan infections and to determine the trends in intestinal parasitic infections. Results of laboratory investigations for parasitic infections during a three-year period in two succeeding decades (1988-90 and 1996-98) were analysed. During the two periods 4233 (65.1%) of 6504 and 2297 (63.1%) of 3641 clinical specimens were respectively, positive for intestinal parasites. These results are very significant as determinants of the level of environmental and domiciliary hygiene. It is concluded that the findings should be of great concern to the local Authority Health Departments which should spur the government to concerted effort aimed at ameliorating the deplorable situation brought about by indiscriminate faecal disposal.