INTESTINAL PARASITES AND ANAEMIA AMONGST ADULT PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN CALABAR, NIGERIA

A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestations and anaemia among adult outpatients (aged 21-50 years) attending the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Anaemic status was determined by haematocrit while parasitic infestation was determined by floatation and direct smear techniques. 42% of the anaemic patients were positive for intestinal parasites while 4% of the non-anaemic patients were positive for intestinal parasites. This was very highly significant (x ² =40.768, p<0.00001). Hookworm was the commonest parasite infecting patients (14%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (5%), Trichuris trichiuria (3.5%) and Balantidium coli (1%). Infections with hookworm were of moderate to high intensity. 26.6% males were infected as opposed to 18.7% females, though this was not statistically significant (X ² =1.758 p=0.185). Polyparasitism was common in males than females and all cases of polyparasitism were anaemic. The age group 31-40 years had the highest infection rate (24.3%). The study showed a relationship between parasitic infestation and alteration of haematological indices. The results also highlighted that parasite control programs targeted at school children should be extended to people of all age groups. The anaemic conditions were worsened by parasite infestations.