الفهرس 
AcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Soil transmitted helminths (STH): Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookwonns (Anclystoma duodenale and Necator americanus) and schistosomiasis are among the most common parasitic infections of human. Current estimates suggested thatabout a quarter of the world’s population, most of them living in developing countries,harbour one or more of these parasites.Schoolchildren are particularly at risk trom infection with these parasites.Epidemiological evidence worldwide shows that school-age children are not only morelikely to be infected, they are also more likely to be more heavily infected than other agegroups. Since the wonn burden is associated with the severity of morbidity, these childrenare likely to suffer most at an age when they are both growing and learning.Although death trom these helminthic infections is relatively rare, variouspathological processes occur, ranging trom subtle morbidity such as anemia, malnutrition,groWth reduction, reduced physical fitness and impaired cognitive functions to clinicallyovert, acute or chronic disease.The present work was conducted to study subtle morbidity induced by STH andschistosomiasis and to investigate its relation to intensity of infection among primaryschoolchildren.The study was carried out in three primary schools in Motobis District in Katr El-Sheikh Governorate. Out of 2145 children enrolled in the schools, 2085 responded to stoolsample submission.Stool samples were collected and examined using Kato Katzl technique fordetecting and counting of STH and S.mansoni eggs and for the identification of other helminthic infections. Depending on the parasitological results, 110 children not fulfillingcriteria of the study were excluded and 1975 were selected for the study and grouped aschildren with single or mixed infection of STH and schistosomiasis and children tree tromparasites. The infected and tree children were subjected to the following:l-Predesigned questionnaireTo collect personal, socioeconomic and medical data as well as data on children’sdate of birth, the results of final year exam and the number of school days lost trom thefonnal school records.2-lIaeEnogJob~ assessEnentHaemoglobin detennination was perfonned by the cyamnethaemoglobin method. Childrenwere defined anemic if their haemoglobin concentration was <12 Wdl.3- Assessment of nutritional statusThe anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were taken. Height for age(HAZ) and weight for age (W AZ) Z- scores were calculated trom National Centre forHealth Statistics (NCHS) reference values. Children were defined as stunted or underweight if their respective HAZ or W AZ was <-2SD below the NCHS median. Body mass index (BMI)-for-age was also calculated. The cut-off value of thinness was BlM.for.age ratio less than 5th percentile of the reference population.4- Assessment of physical fitnessPhysical fitness was assessed with Harvard Step test. Children stepped up anddown on a step 30 times /minute for 5 minutes, while wearing a back pack containing bags of sand equal to 20 of their body weight. The redial pulse was determined at 1,2,3minutes after completion of the test. Physical fitness score was calculated according to thefollowing formula:5- Assessment of cognitive functionsThe standardized Arabic version of Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale was used toassess the cognitive functions of children attending 4th , 5th and 6th school grades. A cross battery assessment was performed using the following five subtests: Vocabulary,quantitative, pattern analysis, bead memory and memory for sentences. Children’s rawscores on each subtest were converted into scaled scores using appropriate tables and thetotal scaled scores were expressed in IQ scores. .6- Assessment of scholastic performanceScholastic performance was assessed based on two items:Scholastic achievement using the results of final year examSchool attendance using data on the number of school days lost during the scholasticyear.