Prevalence of parasitic infections in a rural area of Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE To find the prevalence of human intestinal pathogenic parasites. SETTING The study was conducted in Konkor, Gadap, District East, Karachi. METHODS After taking the verbal consent, all the villagers, selected by area sampling technique were interviewed by a structured questionnaire and then each person in the house was provided with a clean, plastic container to collect the stool samples. Samples were examined using normal saline, iodine preparation and zinc floatation technique where appropriate. RESULTS Out of 263 residents 185 tested for intestinal parasites and 88 (47.5%) had pathogenic parasites. The distributions of parasites were Giardia lamblia 50% and Entamoeba histolytica 48.86%. Statistically none of the socio-demographic variables were associated except education and age group. CONCLUSION In the light of the study result it is concluded that there is a high prevalence of parasitic infection in the community and an intervention strategy including health education program should be designed and implemented to control parasitic infections.