Objective: To determine the prevalence of worm infections and its various types in patients presenting in a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan
Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. A total of 255 adults with suspicion of worm infection above 15 years of age were enrolled in a period of 3 months from August 27, 2016 to November 26, 2016. They were investigated through stool R/E separately on three consecutive days. Patients with a history of antihelminthic drugs in the past 2 months were excluded.
Results: Out of 255 patients, 103 (40.7%) were between 15-30 years and 114 (44.7%) between 31-50 years of age. 146 (57.3%) patients were female. Most of patients (n=149; 58.4%) belonged to urban area. Bore was drinking source in 120 (47.0%) patients. Overall, 131 (51.3%) patients had positive worm infection with Ascaris as most frequent (n=81;31.7%) followed by Taenia species (n=36;14.1%). Female gender and age between 31 and 50 years was found more prevalent with worm infection. Chashma and well drinking source was found significantly associated with worm infection (p
Key words: Worm infestation, prevalence, types of infestation
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