Pervasiveness of intestinal protozoan and worm incursion in IDP's (North Waziristan agency, KPK-Pakistan) children of 6-16 years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of intestinal protozoan and worm infestation in children of families having migrated due to military operation.

METHODS: The cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in Cantonment Military Hospital, Bannu, from August 4 to October 24, 2014, and comprised children of either gender aged 6-16 years belonging to families of internally displaced persons belonging to Miraliand Miranshah in North Waziristan Agency. Stool specimens were collected and examined by direct light microscopy for the assessment of intestinal protozoan and worm infestation.

RESULTS: Of the 150 children examined, 52(34.66%) didn't show any cyst/ova in their stool examination and were marked negative, whereas 98(65.33%) tested positive for numerous intestinal parasites that included Ascaris Lumbricoides 27(18%), Hymenolepis nana 22(15%), Pin worm 18(12%), Taenia saginata 14(9%), Entamoeba histolytica 9(6%), Giardia Lamblia 5(3%) and Ankylostomaduodenal 3(2%).

CONCLUSIONS: Poor hygiene, outdoor open field defecation, and unclean standing water source are risk factors for high prevalence of intestinal worm infestation.