Carriage Rates of Haemophilus Influenzae in Naso–Pharyngeal Aspirates of Pre–School Children in Enugu State, Nigeria

Bryan O. Ogeneh; Uchenna V. Okolie; Veronica N. Emenuga

Volume : IV, Issue : IV, April - 2014

Carriage Rates of Haemophilus Influenzae in Naso–Pharyngeal Aspirates of Pre–School Children in Enugu State, Nigeria

Bryan O. Ogeneh, Uchenna V. Okolie, Veronica N. Emenuga

Abstract :

Throat and nasal swabs were obtained from 158 children who were aged 6 months to 6 years. They comprised those in nursery schools (A), in their homes (B), those who attended day–care centers (C). H. influenzae was identified after isolation in culture by satelitism and biochemical tests. The organism was isolated in 50 samples giving an average carriage rate of 31.7%. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. Mean carriage rate of 30.60% was obtained from children in nursery schools, 41.08 from those at home and 22.64 from those at day care centers. The highest carriage rate was obtained from those who were in their homes and had never attended nursery schools or day–care centers. In each of the 3 groups of children with the exception of those at home, children aged 1 year had the highest isolation rate. The carriage rate is significant in pre–school children in Enugu State.