Awareness and knowledge of scabies and ringworm among parents of school-age children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria: Implications for prevention of superficial skin infestations.

Context: Risk factors for the persistence of superficial skin infestations are prevalent in humid tropical environments, which are favorable for breeding of the causative vector mite Sarcoptes scabiei (ectoparasite) and dermatophyte fungi. Aim: This study aimed at assessing the awareness and knowledge of childhood scabies and ringworm infestations among parents in Calabar, a highly humid rainforest tropical environment. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study design and systematic random sampling were used to recruit school-age children in selected primary schools in Calabar. Materials and Methods: Researcher-driven administration of a structured questionnaire was conducted to obtain quantitative data from parents of recruited children. Statistical Analysis Used: : Chi-square was used to assess factors associated with ever hearing or seeing scabies and ringworm infestations. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: One hundred and eighty-two (56.7%) and 218 (67.9%) of the respondents had heard of or seen scabies and ringworm infestation. Among respondents that were aware of scabies, 53.3% knew of the cause, 50.5% were aware of the risk factors while 68.1% and 78.0% knew their treatment and prevention, respectively; 98.6%, 60.6%, 76.6%, and 80.7% of respondents knew the cause, risk factors, treatment, and prevention of ringworm infestation, respectively. Fathers with at least secondary school literacy level and sharing beds were significantly associated with awareness of scabies. Conclusion: There is a suboptimal level of awareness and knowledge of two of the most common superficial skin infestations among parents of primary school children in the study setting. There is a need to redouble our effort at sensitization of parents toward improved awareness of these common infestations.

Résumé Contexte: Les facteurs de risque de persistance des infestations cutanées superficielles sont prévalents dans les environnements tropicaux humides, favorables à la reproduction du vecteur responsable, la gale Sarcoptes scabiei (ectoparasite), et des champignons dermatophytes. Objectif : Cette étude visait à évaluer la sensibilisation et les connaissances des parents de Calabar, un environnement tropical de forêt équatoriale très humide, concernant la gale et les infestations à la teigne chez les enfants. Cadre et conception : Une étude transversale et un échantillonnage systématique ont été utilisés pour recruter des enfants d'âge scolaire dans des écoles primaires sélectionnées à Calabar. Méthodes et matériel: Une administration dirigée par le chercheur d'un questionnaire structuré a été réalisée pour obtenir des données quantitatives auprès des parents des enfants recrutés. Analyse statistique utilisée: Le test du chi carré a été utilisé pour évaluer les facteurs associés à la connaissance de la gale et des infestations à la teigne. La signification statistique a été fixée à P < 0,05. Résultats: Cent quatre-vingt-deux (56,7 %) et 218 (67,9 %) des répondants avaient entendu parler ou vu une infestation de gale et de teigne. Parmi les répondants qui étaient au courant de la gale, 53,3 % connaissaient la cause, 50,5 % étaient conscients des facteurs de risque, tandis que 68,1 % et 78,0 % connaissaient respectivement leur traitement et leur prévention. De même, 98,6 %, 60,6 %, 76,6 % et 80,7 % des répondants connaissaient respectivement la cause, les facteurs de risque, le traitement et la prévention de l'infestation à la teigne. Les pères ayant au moins un niveau d'alphabétisation au niveau secondaire et partageant des lits étaient significativement associés à la connaissance de la gale. Conclusion: Il existe un niveau sous-optimal de sensibilisation et de connaissance de deux des infestations cutanées superficielles les plus courantes parmi les parents d'enfants d'école primaire dans le cadre de l'étude. Il est nécessaire de redoubler d'efforts pour sensibiliser les parents afin d'améliorer la connaissance de ces infestations courantes. Mots-clés: Infestations cutanées, gale, teigne, connaissance, parents, enfants d'âge scolaire, Nigeria.

Soil-transmitted helminth infection among school-age children in Ogoja, Nigeria: implication for control.

The study aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminthiases among school-aged children in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State. Fecal samples were collected from 504 participants and analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique and modified Baermann technique for identifying larvae of Strongyloides. A total of 232 (46.0%) samples were positive for soil-transmitted helminths. The overall prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis were 14.1%, 16.5%, 2.6%, and 12.9% respectively. The prevalence of infections were higher among males (46.6%) than females (45.4%). Overall, parasitic infection was higher in the 5-7-year age group (65.6%) than in the other age groups (p = 0.000). Infection intensities of A. lumbricoides (84.00 EPG) (p = 0.044) and T. trichiura (96.00 EPG) (p = 0.041) were higher in school-age children aged 14-16 years. A. lumbricoides and hookworm co-infection (8.7%) was the most common mixed infection and was significantly higher in males than females. School-aged children who did not have prior knowledge about soil-transmitted helminth infections, the habit of drinking water without boiling, open defecation, use of pit latrine, and children who did not have toilet facilities in school were significantly associated with soil-transmitted helminthiases. There was a significant relationship between washing hands after using the toilet, the habit of putting on footwear outside the house, and soil-transmitted helminth infection. In addition to preventive chemotherapy, control measures should focus on health education, providing clean drinking water, proper disposal of human excreta and sewage, and environmental hygiene.

Detecting Schistosoma haematobium infection by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in school children in three senatorial districts of Cross River State, Nigeria.

As a result of the poor sensitivity and specificity of the standard parasitological diagnostic methods currently being used, this study was conducted to compare the standard parasitological diagnostic methods and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in determining the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Cross River State (CRS). The study was conducted between April 2015 and March 2016. Seven hundred and seventy seven (777) urine samples were randomly collected from selected school-age children. The urine samples were subjected to standard parasitological and molecular examinations. Chi-square test was used to test the differences between the data on subgroups and the results from specimen examinations. An overall prevalence of 1.7% was recorded using microscopy and 34.7% recorded using PCR. The highest prevalence of infection by microscopy occurred in the Southern Senatorial District (2.3%), while the Northern Senatorial District recorded the highest prevalence of infection by PCR (53.2%) (p < 0.05). Males were more infected (2.4%) than females (0.6%) using microscopy. With PCR, males were also more infected (35.7%) compared to females (33.3%) (p < 0.05). The highest prevalence of infection using microscopy and PCR both occurred in school-age children aged 5-8 years (3.6% and 47.8% respectively), while the lowest prevalence for both methods occurred in participants aged 17 - 20 years (0% for both methods) (p < 0.05). This study has shown PCR to be effective in detecting schistosomiasis infection and also re-affirms the endemicity of urinary schistosomiasis in the three Senatorial Districts of CRS.