[Prevalence of gastrointestinal infections in schoolchildren and adolescents in Tharaka (Kenya) and applicability of the SODIS method for disinfecting domestic drinking water].

OBJECTIVE

Gastrointestinal diseases are a very common pathology in children in Tharaka (Kenya) and are associated with the consumption of untreated water. The objective of this paper was to determine the prevalence of these infections and to evaluate the feasibility of solar water disinfection (SODIS) as a household water purification solution.

METHODS

An observational and descriptive study was carried out by collecting drinking water samples from two different sources and, on the other hand, microbiological analysis of fecal samples from 227 children from different schools in the area. In addition, the SODIS method was applied under local conditions to evaluate its efficacy in the elimination of pathogens.

RESULTS

The SODIS method was able to completely eliminate fecal coliforms in the treated water samples after six hours of solar exposure and, in the case from the riverbed, two hours was enough, due to the combination of high solar radiation and temperature in the area. Between 13% and 24% (depending on the school) of the fecal samples tested positive for protozoa, the most frequent being Giardia Lamblia followed by Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba histolytica. Boys showed a higher incidence than girls.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of gastrointestinal infections is related to the consumption of contaminated water. The SODIS method proves to be effective, inexpensive and easy to apply, constituting a viable option for improving child health in communities without access to safe drinking water.