1.1 Background to the study

Gastroenteritis is a disease condition due to the inflammation of the mucous of the stomach and intestine. Many microorganisms contaminating food and water can cause acute gastroenteritis. In most cases it runs its own course over several (days. However it can be a serious condition if the fluid loss is sever enough to cause dehydration. When food is the source of the pathogen the condition is often called food  poisoning (Archeson 200)

Gastroenteritis can arise in two ways the microorganisms may actually produce a food borne infection, that is, they may first colonize the gastrointestinal tract and grow within it, then either invade host tissues or secrete exo- toxins (Johnson, 1999).

Alternatively the pathogens may secrete an exo- toxins that contaminates the food and is ingested by the host. This is some times reffered to as food intoxication because the toxins ingested and the presence of the living microorganisms is not required. Because theses toxins of the disrupt the functioning  of intestinal mucosa they are called enterotoxins (Sanders and sanders 1997)

Most cases of gastroenteritis are due to viral infection about a half are caused by the rotavirus, first discovered and described at the royal children’s Hospital university of Melbourne in the early 1970 various other  virus may cause the same symptoms as well as bacteria like campylobacter protozoa and helminthes. In most cases the precise infective agent is not identified. It is only when symptoms are persisting that stools are sent for microscopy and culture in the laboratory (Nachamkin 1992).

On a global scale gastroenteritis is a massive health problem. About 5 million people die each year, mainly young children in underdevloped countries most deaths are due to dehgdration, in adequate fluid replacement and cirulatory collapse. In Australia, Asia, African and South America an occasional fatality still occurs with gastroenteritis again mainly due to complication of sever dehydration A rotavirus vaccine has been developed in Australia and may eventually have  extensive world wide application (Prescott et al 2005).

The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are vomiting diarliea and cramping abdominal pain. Sometimes of fever may also be present. In more severe cases, signs of dehydration may appear a young child may look floppy  and pale and  the   urine out put may be reduced. these signs means that urgent medical assessments and treatment are required. 

1.2 Statement of Research Problem

Intestinal parasites are among the major contributors to the global disease burden but the non-acute nature of the infections has contributed to the perception of intestinal parasitic infections as being common but usually unimportant to the public health community (Absar et al., 2010). Inadequate sanitation and unhygienic living conditions lead to faecal contamination of the environment, lack of proper health education, insufficient and contaminated water supplies contribute to more infection by intestinal parasites in many localities (Cheesbrough, 2005). The consumption of street foods from food vendors and roadside hawkers of foods contaminated with eggs of intestinal parasites contribute to the transmission of infection. In Enugu State, there is paucity of information on the distribution and transmission of intestinal parasitic infection in many Local Government Areas including Bosso.

1.3  AIMS  AND OBJECTIVES

-  to determine the prevalenble of gastroenteritis  in primary  school children

-  also to implicate in gastroenteritis .

- to relate the environment of the pupil to the types of diseases which they acquire from it.

1.4 HYPOTHESIS

H0 - prevalence of gastroenteritis caused by bacteria and protozoa is common in primary school children

H1 - Although environment favours infection prevalence is not common in primary school children .

1.5 Significance of the study

Intestinal parasitic infections may remain asymptomatic and consequently carriers may act as on-going sources of infection within their community (Saki et al., 2012). School-age children are more susceptible to intestinal parasitic infections, because if the infections occur during a period of intense physical growth and rapid metabolism, it may result in increased nutritional needs which if not adequately met, growth may be impaired. During a period of intense learning, when children are infected, their learning capabilities may significantly diminish, thereby leading to compromise in their learning abilities in formative years. In a setting of continuous exposure to contaminated soil and water, children generally lack awareness of the need for good personal hygiene and enjoy playing with soil and water which may be contaminated.

The distribution and prevalence of various species of intestinal parasites differ from region to region. Although several studies have been conducted on the distribution and prevalence of intestinal parasites in Nigeria, there are still several localities/communities for which epidemiological information has not been established (Obiukwu et al., 2008) This study was conducted in order to enrich baseline data on the occurrence of the gastro-intestinal parasites in school children.

1.6 Scope of the study

This study aims to determine the prevalence of different species of gastrointestinal parasites among primary school children in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study will focus on primary school children aged 9-12years in Airport primary school Emene Enugu state.