Prevalence of Amoebiasis Among Patients Attending Longisa County Hospital, Bomet County, Kenya

Amoebiasis is a common life-threatening parasitic disease affecting 12% of the world population and the third leading cause of mortality due to parasitic infections worldwide, after malaria and schistosomiasis. It is estimated that about 500 million people are at risk of infection with amoebiasis yearly. In under-developed and developing countries, infection occurs more commonly in areas of low socio-economic status, poor sanitation and nutrition. In Kenya, there is no continuous surveillance system to combat amoebiasis hence its real prevalence remains unknown in most parts of the country despite majority of the rural population living in areas at risk of infection due to inadequate sanitation and lack of save water for domestic use. The study aimed at determining amoebiasis prevalence at Longisa County Hospital at Bomet County Kenya located within the Rift Valley. A retrospective survey was used through evaluation of data from hospital records for a period of five years. The study revealed that out of 5480 stool samples examined at the hospital laboratory during the period January 2009 to December 2013, 1574 (28.72%) stool tests were positive for amoebiasis of which 10.47% were males while 15.76% were females. The least affected age group was children under age five years at 2.37% based on hospital laboratory data. The disease prevalence was at its peak during the month of February (47%) cumulatively for the five years of study. There is need for routine stool examination for amoebiasis in patients presenting with diarrhea and treatment given to control the disease. Understanding the extent of amoebiasis in the region adds valuable information needed for planning and policy making towards minimizing the effects of the disease