• Dr. Showkat Hussain Rather
• Dr. Aabid Hussain

The Present study determines the prevalence of parasitic infestation and types of intestinal parasites in school going children of South-Western rural area of Kashmir Valley. It included students from standard Ist to Class 10th. Among 130 children, 60 (i.e., 46.15%) had parasitic infestation. Out of 60 infected children (46.15%) school children were infected with different types of parasites (either protozoa, helminths or mixed). Among all infected children (n=60), single parasitic infection was detected in 52 (86.66%) children, while 8 (13.33%) children had mixed infection. Among helminthic parasites, Ascaris was the most common (24%), followed by Gairdia (7.5%), Trichuris (5%), Taenia (1.5%) and E. histolytica (1%). Gender-wise, there was moderate statistical difference in prevalence of parasitic infection in all age groups. Present study suggests the need of proper health awareness program in schools along with regular screening for intestinal parasites and treatment for effective management of the intestinal parasites.

Keywords: Prevalence, Parasitic Infection, School children, Kashmir

"Prevalence of parasitic infestation among school going children of South-Western region of Kashmir", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no.435-442, February-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1902952.pdf

"Prevalence of parasitic infestation among school going children of South-Western region of Kashmir", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no. pp435-442, February-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1902952.pdf