Transmission of beef tapeworm infection among school children of Malakand region, Pakistan: An environmentally transmitted parasite infection

Background Taeniids mostly parasitize the people of underdeveloped nations of the world. To investigate the prevalence of taeniids infection associated with demographic and clinical features of school children in Malakand region, Pakistan. Methods A random sampling technique was applied and Graphpaid of version 5 was used to analyze the data P value was considered significant when less than 0.05 at 95%CI. Of the total 360 samples examined 140 tested positive for helminth including taeniids. Results Among the infected samples, 22.8% were observed to be infected only with taeniids tapeworms. Male children were found to be more infected than females. The highest prevalence (15%) of taenia infection was noted in July while the least in January (5%). Ascaris lumbricoides were observed as 30.71% most prevalent, while Taxocara species Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium species were recorded as the least one (0.71% each). The children aged 5–7 years (grade 1 to 3rd ) in urban areas were more parasitized than others. Individuals of 41 to 50 inches of height, 20 to 40 grams of weight, and 8 to 9 inches in upper arm circumference were comparatively more infected. Children having less than 5 family members and unemployed parents were more parasitized. Type of stool, washing hands after toilet, abdominal pain, constipation, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, bloating (P < 0.05) while only diarrhea (P > 0.05) was observed. Conclusion The prevalence of taenid species was high among school children of the Malakand region. A campaign about the transmission of these parasites should be launched.