Intestinal parasitic infestation in combatants and their families: a hospital-based study in Mid-Western Regional Police Hospital, Nepal.

OBJECTIVE To find out the scenario of intestinal parasitic infestation in combatants and their families in the setting of Mid-Western Regional Police Hospital (MWRPH), Nepal. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS All 2005 patients presented with the complaint of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, frequent defecation, blood in stool, or black stool from August 2007 to February 2011 were offered a stool examination. About 10g of fresh stool was collected in a clean, dry bottle. Two slides from each specimen were examined applying light microscope in 10 and 40 uvf at Banke, Nepalgunj hospital laboratory. RESULT Among 2005 patients, 928 (46.28%) were infested with either helminths and/or protozoa. 96% were single infestation. The most common infestation was Ascaris lumbricoides (48.06%) and the second was hook worm (18.97%). Most common protozoal infestations were Entamoeba histolytica (12.92%) and Giardia lamblia (9.49%). Helminthic infestations peaked in cool months and protozoal infestations were rather steady throughout the year. CONCLUSION Very high parasitic infestation in least developed mid- western Nepal may need urgent public health intervention.