Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia among schoolchildren in Um-Asher Area, Sudan

Abstract Objective: Infections with Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia are widely prevalent and responsible for serious public health issues among school-aged children in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of these parasites among children from two primary schools in Um-Asher area, Khartoum, Sudan. A total 170 fresh stool specimens were collected from November 2017 to June 2018. The samples were examined by microscopy for the presence of the two parasites. Results: The overall prevalence of both parasites among the 170 children was 20%, with 13 children infected with E. histolytica (7.6%) and 23 with G. lamblia (13.5%). Most of the positive cases were single infections. Only two children (1.2%) had mixed infections. This indicates that these gastrointestinal parasites remain a challenging public health concern wherever sanitation and health measures are limited.