Sékangué Obili Géril^{1, 2,}, Bidounga Christie Laurel³, Ollandzobo Lucie Charlotte^{3, 2}, Ossibi Ibara Bienvenu Roland^{4, 2}, Gackosso Gaëtan¹, Djendja Ingoba Irène Raïssa¹, Osséré Raïssa Roméonde¹, Mabiala Babéla Jean Robert^{3, 2}

Introduction: Intestinal parasitosis is a neglected tropical disease and a public health problem in developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this study, conducted in a school setting, was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in school children. Patients, materials and method: The study consisted of analysing 377 stools from children aged 5 to 14 years. Each stool sample underwent a parasitological stool examination including macroscopic stool examination and microscopic examination before and after the simplified Ritchie enrichment technique. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 24.4%. According to age group, children aged 5 to 7 years had the most parasites. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.83 in favour of girls. The frequency of intestinal parasitosis according to the type of parasite was 21.6% for helminths and 78.4% for protozoan parasites. Monoparasitism occurred in 81.4% (79 cases), biparasitism in 16.5% (16 cases) and triparasitism in 2.1% (2 cases). The intestinal parasites identified were: Entamoeba coli (53.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (12.4%), Endolimax nana (11.3%), Giardia intestinalis (7.2%), Entamoeba hartmanni (9.3%), Iodamoeba bütschlii (5.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (6.2%), Entamoeba polecki (2.1%), Entamoeba dispar (4.2%), Trichuris trichiura (6.2%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (3.1%). Conclusion: Intestinal parasitosis remains a public health problem in schoolchildren. Protozoan parasites are more common than helminths. The most common parasites are Entamoeba coli, Ascaris lumbricoides and Endolimax nana.

Parasites, Intestinal parasitic infections, Schoolchildren, Congo