Abstract: Helminth infections, such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Hookworms are major public health concerns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of infection of gastro-intestinal helminthiasis in Babadjou. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out on eight hundred and twenty five (825) stool samples collected from residents using the simple centrifugal flotation and McMaster count technique respectively. Out of the 825 samples examined, 70(8.5%) were infected with at least one helminth parasite with prevalence and intensities of infection of 4.4% and 2594.44 ± 3897.17 for A. lumbricoides, 4.2% and 72.86 ± 110.04 for T. trichiura, 1.9% and 83.33 ± 72.37 for Hookworms and 0.2% and 50 ± 00 for Capillaria hepatica respectively. Males (13.8%) were more infected than females (8.6%). The prevalence of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura vary significantly with age groups with those of 1-10 years taking the lead (17.9%). The prevalence between the three educational levels differed significantly (P < 0.05) for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and Hookworm where those from the primary level were most infected (28.6%). The locality of Bamedji showed very high prevalences of A. lumbricoides (35.7%) and T. trichiura (17.9%) with significant differences as well. From the different occupations involved in the current study, students harboured all the four nematodes encountered. Cases of double and triple infections were recorded with A. lumbricoides+ T. trichiura (2.4%) being the highest and A. lumbricoides+ T. trichiura+ Hookworms (0.2%) the only triple infection registered. According to fecal concentration of eggs, 77.01% of infections were light infections, 3.44% moderate and 19.54% heavy infections. Only A. lumbricoides had heavy infections while all Hookworm infections were light. The results found on this study show that, it is important to control and prevent gastrointestinal helminths in and around Babadjou.Abstract: Helminth infections, such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Hookworms are major public health concerns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of infection of gastro-intestinal helminthiasis in Babadjou. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out on eight hundred and twenty five (825) stool sam...Show More
Abstract: It is possible to obtain a quality assurance (QA) of the dosimetry within a short time by using the new mathematical tools for a water phantom where dose measurements were made at two points only for a few square field sizes of the linear accelerator beam. The human body is not homogeneous. Water phantom makes it possible to create inhomogeneous phantoms by introducing blocks within it at suitable position to simulate body organs that may affect the dosage significantly. Two low cost inhomogeneous phantoms were developed using cork sheets and acrylic blocks to simulate the effects of normal lungs and cancerous lungs respectively using finite geometry and layer geometry. Monte Carlo Simulation was performed for each of these phantoms and detailed vertical and horizontal dose measurements were carried out. Percentage Depth Dose (PDD) measurements performed for the two point formalisms fixed at 100 cm Source to Surface Distance for both the homogeneous and inhomogeneous mediums and were compared with the doses generated by a Treatment Planning System. The quality of the methodology has ascertained firstly for a homogeneous medium. The formulated formalism of Tissue phantom ratio (TPR) was employed for inhomogeneous media particularly for finite and layer geometry using scattering factors obtained initially from detailed depth dose measurements. TPR conversion factors from homogeneous to inhomogeneous geometry were determined. The scattering factor was determined as a ratio of the depth dose in inhomogeneous medium and homogeneous medium. The quality factors of TPR values of homogeneous to inhomogeneous TPR conversion factor were also calculated. For all cases, the present results gave values which agreed very well to either actually measured values or with values calculated using TPS and these were also less than the international standard of deviation of 5%. The low cost inhomogeneous phantoms through modifications of the water phantom deliver better information on QA consuming less time than before and offering better QA than a detector array. The present work will have an impact on the quality assurance of dosimetry and safety of radiotherapy.Abstract: It is possible to obtain a quality assurance (QA) of the dosimetry within a short time by using the new mathematical tools for a water phantom where dose measurements were made at two points only for a few square field sizes of the linear accelerator beam. The human body is not homogeneous. Water phantom makes it possible to create inhomogeneous ph...Show More