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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Intestinal helminthiasis. III. A program of education and health in helminthiasis].

From August 1985 to June 1986 an Education Program for school-children and their parents or guardians was undertaken in Santa Eudóxia (S. Paulo, Brazil) with a view to the practice of knowledge concerning intervention with regard to parasitic helminths, with the aim of stimulating collective action. A manual of technical orientation for the coordinators had had been prepared. Three groups composed of school-children's parents or guardians was formed and these discussed four basic themes during the Course of Education and Health in Helminthiasis: 1. What the disease is like; 2. The worms which occur in man; 3. The significance of the disease; 4. Prophylactic measures. Each group prepared a manual about the content of the course. The results of the children's work were presented at the Health Education Fair, an event open to the whole community. The way this Program developed made it clear that the population had become aware of the magnitude of the problem. Furthermore, they feel the need of effective measures regarding the control of helminth infestation.

Brazil↗
PubMed1977

Comparative studies on the evaluation of the effect of new anthelminthics on various intestinal helminthiasis in Iran. Effects of anthelminthics on intestinal helminthiasis.

The effect of pyrantel pamoate, levamisole, mebendazole, thiabendazole and bephenium hydroxynaphthoate on various intestinal helminths were evaluated among the inhabitants of four villages in the Dezful area southwest of Iran. A total number of 328 persons, all infected simultaneously with Ascaris and hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale) and 49.2% with Trichostrongylus spp., were randomly divided into six groups. One group was kept as the control and the other five were each treated with one compound. Follow-up examinations showed that all of the drugs used were highly effective on Ascaris, and the differences in the cure rate were not statistically significant except for bephenium hydroxynaphthoate which showed a lower cure rate. For hookworm, cure rates of 100, 90, and 85% were observed with levamisole, pyrantel pamoate and bephenium hydroxynaphthoate, respectively. Cure rates observed with mebendazole and thiabendazole were 35 and 51%, respectively. For Trichostrongylus, the highest cure rate was achieved with levamisole, followed by thiabendazole and mebendazole. While the percentage of people showing side-effects was rather low for all drugs, thiabendazole and bephenium hydroxynaphthoate produced a higher, and levamisole a lower, percentage of side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intestinal helminthiasis among school children: preliminary results of a prospective study in Agboville in Southern Côte d'Ivoire].

Intestinal helminthiasis affects the health and academic performance of children in developing countries. To highlight a few socio-economic factors that impact the presence and upholding of intestinal helminthiasis, a cohort study was performed from February to June 2001. This study took place in Agboville in Southern Côte d'Ivoire on 363 children, under the age of 15, regularly enrolled in school and selected by two-step clustered sampling. After the survey was completed, their stools were examined using 3 methods: direct exam, Kato's technique, and Graham's anal scotch-test. Infected students received an appropriate anti-helminthic treatment. After performing a test two weeks later, a new sample of 348 parasite-free children was made up and re-examined after three months, through the aforementioned techniques. In this sample, we assumed that students who were infested in the initial exam were "exposed", while those who were not infested in the first place were deemed to be "not exposed". The results showed that 135 students out of the 360 admitted for the first exam were infested; or a 37.5% of intestinal helminthiasis prevalence (IC95%=30.5-45). The prevalent parasite species were Necator americanus (15%), Trichuris trichiura (13.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (10%). Twenty-eight per cent of 135 infested students were infected by more than one parasite. After three months, the incidence rate of intestinal helminthiasis calculated out of the remaining 336 students was 7.7% (IC95%=4.4-13.1). The likelihood of re-infestation amounted to 3.4 (IC95%=1.5-7.3). The pattern of re-infestation rates according to socio-economic factors differed from that of infested prevalence. The prevalent parasites in re-infested patients were Trichuris trichiura (16.3%), Schistosoma mansoni (12.5%). All intestinal nematodes and Schistosoma mansoni were observed. The most frequent parasites species where those transmitted cutaneously. The high re-infestation rate suggests that intestinal helminthiasis in this region affects roughly the same children. These results show the necessity to continue our investigations in order to highlight essential hygienic factors in our long-term fight against intestinal helminthiasis.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Environmental influences on helminthiasis and nutritional status among Pacific schoolchildren.

This paper describes a study undertaken to: (1) determine the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm infections and nutritional status among Pacific Island school children; (2) identify factors influencing helminthiasis; (3) identify interventions to improve school health. A total of 3,683 children aged 5-12 years attending 27 primary schools in 13 Pacific Island countries were surveyed along with school environmental data. Stool samples were collected from 1996 children (54.2%) and analysed for ova and helminths. Total prevalence of helminthiasis was 32.8%. Anaemia prevalence was 12.4%. Children with helminthiasis and anaemia were found to be 8.7 times more likely to be stunted and 4.3 times more likely to be underweight than non-anaemic and non-infected children. Four significant environmental influences on helminthiasis were identified: (1) an inadequate water supply; (2); availability of a school canteen; (3) regular water/sanitation maintenance regimes; and (4) overcrowded classrooms. Helminthiasis was found to be strongly associated with anaemia, stunting and underweight and environmental influences identified. Although mass anti-helminthic drug administrations (MDA) have been taking place, reinfection is common as drug therapy alone is not enough. Programme effectiveness depends upon upgrading school environments to include an adequate water supply, controlled food preparation/provision, well-maintained water/sanitation facilities and class sizes of 30 students or less.

Ancylostoma↗
PubMed1997

Socio-environmental predictors of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in a rural community in Malaysia.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is a common problem in communities with poor socio-environmental conditions. This study was undertaken to identify important socio-environmental predictors of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Bachok, a rural community in Kelantan for the development and implementation of an effective prevention and control program. Of 363 children randomly sampled, 38.8% were infected with soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Risk predictors of soil-transmitted helminthiasis found to be significant after adjustment included poor household hygiene score and large household size. The probability of being infected was 0.58 amongst children with both of these risk factors.

Child↗
PubMed1983

The measurement of Ascaris suum protein by radioimmunoassay in sera from patients with helminthiasis and with gastrointestinal diseases.

In this study, we have developed a reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) for Ascaris suum protein (Asp) and have measured the serum concentration of Asp in control subjects and in patients with helminthiasis and a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. The cross-reactivities of Asp antibody with other helminth worm antigens were also measured by RIA. Ascaris lumbricoides contained approximately the same amount of Asp antigenic substance as did Ascaris suum. Toxocara canis had a high concentration of a substance partially cross-reactive with Asp. Small amounts of substance cross-reacting with Asp were also exhibited by Anisakis larvae, Schistosoma japonicum and Taenia saginata. However, no cross-reactivities of Fasciola hepatica and Paragonimus westermani with Asp were observed in this study. Almost all the serum levels of Asp from normal control subjects were below the sensitivity of this RIA (10 ng/ml). High concentrations of Asp were observed in sera from patients with ascariasis (64.5 +/- 18.8 ng/ml: mean +/- S.E.), anisakiasis (75.2 +/- 28.0 ng/ml), toxocariasis (78.4 +/- 31.3 ng/ml) and schistosomiasis japonica (14.3 +/- 3.4 ng/ml). Asp levels in sera from patients with other helminthiasis were not significantly high. From these findings, it was suggested that RIA for Asp may not be specific for diagnosis of ascariasis, but might be a suitable screening method for patients with some kinds of helminthiasis. Interestingly, high concentrations of Asp were also observed in sera from patients with ulcerative colitis (24.8 +/- 2.5 ng/ml) and Crohn's disease (19.8 +/- 5.2 ng/ml), but Asp levels from 7 other gastrointestinal diseases seemed not to be significantly high. These findings remain unexplained but may derive from cross-reactivities between helminthic and gut mucosal antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Intestinal helminthiasis in Colombian children promotes a Th2 response to Helicobacter pylori: possible implications for gastric carcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Colombians living in coastal Tumaco have a lower incidence of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer compared with residents of Pasto in the high Andes. Considering the risk for H. pylori disease seems affected by features of bacterial virulence and host polymorphisms, other poorly understood influences, such as concurrent helminthiasis, may also be important. METHODS: Fecal samples from 211 children were tested for parasites and sera from another cohort of 159 children and 92 adults were tested for IgE and H. pylori-specific IgG. RESULTS: Most individuals (95%) from both areas were H. pylori seropositive, with a predominant response of IgG1 followed by IgG2 and low IgG3 and IgG4 antibodies. Compared with Pasto children, Tumaco children were more commonly infected with helminths (P = 0.000), had higher serum IgE levels (P < 0.03), and had higher Th2-associated IgG1 responses to H. pylori (P < 0.0002). Other IgG isotype responses all increased with age but were not significantly different between children and adults from either area. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that intestinal helminthiasis in children promotes Th2-polarizing responses to H. pylori and may decrease gastric cancer risk in these individuals later in life. Concurrent helminthiasis may alter inflammatory responses to H. pylori and thus affect the progression of gastritis to gastric atrophy, dysplasia, and cancer.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Giardiasis and helminthiasis in children of both public and private day-care centers and junior and high schools in the city of Mirassol, São Paulo State, Brazil].

This study showed different frequencies of intestinal parasitosis (giardiasis and helminthiasis) among children in day-care centers and junior and high schools (public and private). The survey involved 199 individuals, 96 belonging to public schools and 103 to private institutions. The frequency of giardiasis in public institutions was shown to be greater than in private institutions. Regarding helminthiasis, frequencies were similar among day-care centers, but greater for public schools in comparison to private institutions. When levels of socio-economic status, education, basic sanitary conditions and hygiene were analyzed as determinants of intestinal parasitosis, it became evident that greater frequency of giardiasis and helminthiasis occurred among children from low-income families and those whose parents had low levels of education. The source of vegetables was also a significant factor in determining such parasitosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Helminthiasis in selected children seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: Illiteracy, poverty with associated poor environmental sanitation practices have been implicated in the heavy burden of helminthiasis among children. The objective of this cross-sectional survey is to determine the impact of parents' level of education on the intestinal helminthic status of children. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients, 0-15 years totaling 1030 who visited the communicable disease clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, from October, 2001 to March 2002 were included in this study. However, only 207 of the enlisted patients submitted faecal samples for examination and constituted the study population. Tool for data collection was structured questionnaire that was researcher administered to mother/caregivers after informed consent was obtained. Information sought in the questionnaire included sex and age of the subjects and level of education of their parents. Formol ether concentration method was used for stool examination while intensity was estimated using McMaster counting chamber technique. RESULTS: Of the 207 faecal samples examined 46(22.2% ) had ova of helminths while 161(77.85% ) had none. More school children, 40(19.3% ), than pre-school children, 6(2.9% ) had helminth ova in their faecal samples and the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). More females, 28(13.5% ) than males, 18(8.7% ) were infected but the difference was however not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Intestinal helminth ova seen in order of prevalence include A. lumbricoides, 23(11.1% ); hookworm, 12(5.8% ); T. trichiuria, 8(3.8% ); Schistosoma mansoni, 2(1.0% ); Strongyloides stercoralis, 1(0.5% ) while multiple infection was recorded in 11(5.3% ) patients. Intensity of infection was low. The difference between the means for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiuria and multiple infection by age were found to be statistically significant P < 0.001; P < 0.05; P < 0.001, respectively. Mother's level of education more than father's level of education seemed to influence the pattern of intestinal helminthiasis among the children but the association was not found to be statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prevalence and intensity of infection was low probably due to periodic antihelminthic treatment offered by the health authorities. Improvement in mother's level of education brought about decrease in prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis among the children. Therefore, improvement in female education should be encouraged to reduce the incidence of communicable disease in the family.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[An assessment of the helminthiasis situation in Belorussia by the dynamics of the mean multiyear indices of population morbidity].

The study of population morbidity with helminthiasis prevalence in Byelorussia has revealed 11 nosological entities and has established that in 99.9% these were cases of ascariasis, trichocephaliasis and enterobiasis. In 1981-1989 dynamics of ascariasis and trichocephaliasis morbidity was characterized by a marked tendency towards its decrease, while there was a tendency towards moderate growth in enterobiasis morbidity. The values of the (intensive) rates of helminthiasis morbidity during the examination of hundreds of thousands people does not considerably depend on the fluctuations of the number of persons examined on the presence of helminths. To elaborate systems for epidemiologic surveys of helminthiasis it is necessary to increase the volume and improve the quality of information on the morbidity rates.

Helminthiasis↗
PubMed1985

Canine and human gastrointestinal helminthiasis of the Kainji Lake area, Nigeria.

An investigation into gastrointestinal helminthiasis in human and dog population of the Kainji Lake area revealed a high prevalence of helminthiasis which may be due to lack of adequate health and veterinary facilities; crowdiness and squalid environment. The prevalent parasites in humans were Ancylostoma sp, 40.33%; Ascaris lumbricoides, 44.07% and Strongyloides stercoralis 4.05%, while in dogs Ancylostoma sp, 36.95%, Dipylidium caninum, 28.26%, Echinococcus granulosus, 8.69% and S. stercoralis 5.43%. The risk of incidental occurrence of helminths of dog, D. caninum, Toxocara canis, E. granulosus are highlighted and the need to educate the community on hygiene matters in the absence of adequate health facilities are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

A six-year follow-up of schoolchildren for urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Northern Tanzania.

Two cross-sectional studies with a 6-year interval were undertaken in two primary schools in neighbouring villages in Mwanga District, Tanzania, to determine the prevalence of schistosome and soil-transmitted helminth infections before and 6 years after treatment. Within this interval, health-related interventions such as one mass treatment of the villagers, health education, improvement of sanitation and access to safe water were undertaken in the villages. In 1996, urinary schistosomiasis occurred in Kileo (n=284) and Kivulini (n=350) in 37.0 and 86.3% of the schoolchildren. Intestinal schistosomiasis was found in 22.9 and 43.5% of the children. The infection with soil-transmitted helminths ranged between 2.7 and 18.1% in both villages. After 6 years, the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren remained nearly constant in Kileo (33.5%; n=544), but dropped from 86.3% to 70.0% in Kivulini (n=514). In the latter village the proportion of children heavily infected with Schistosoma haematobium (> or = 50 eggs/10 ml urine) decreased from 53.8% to 34.4%. With the exception of hookworm infection, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and intestinal schistosomiasis were significantly less seen in 2002 compared to the baseline. The previous chemotherapy of schoolchildren and villagers in 1996 and 1998, respectively, might have led to a reduced transmission of schistosomiasis in the following years. However, the reduction of prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis is more likely to be the result of health-related interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Anthelminthic drug safety and drug administration in the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in community campaigns.

Helminth infections are now recognised as being a major health priority worldwide. Morbidity due to these infections can be controlled at a reasonable cost by means of periodic chemotherapy using effective drugs. Deworming campaigns targeted at high risk groups, such as school-age children, pre-school children and women of child-bearing age, are the mainstay of the control strategy launched by WHO. Anthelminthic drugs can be delivered effectively through the school system, women's associations or other community-based interventions, each of which often lack health personnel supervision. The safety of anthelminthic drugs is, therefore, of paramount importance and side effects have to be recognised and monitored, especially when generic drugs are widespread. Four anthelminthic drugs are considered to provide appropriate single dose treatment against soil-transmitted helminthiasis: albendazole, levamisole, mebendazole and pyrantel. Side effects, at the dosage recommended for deworming, have been described as negligible and self-limiting. However, a limited number of reports have associated more severe adverse reactions to the distribution of anthelminthic medicines. Even if the available information cannot confirm a cause-effect relationship, it is essential that these effects are known. Ministries of Health can then set up efficient and safe delivery, monitoring and referral systems, in order to minimise the risk and maximise the benefit of periodic anthelminthic chemotherapy in communities where soil-transmitted helminthiasis is endemic.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Incidence of atopic disease in a tropical environment: partial independence from intestinal helminthiasis.

The reported incidence of atopic disease in the tropical environment, albeit somewhat controversial, has often been very low. This has been postulated to be due to an inhibitory influence of intestinal helminthiasis, although the predominantly rural nature of the populations studied might also be an important factor to consider. We evaluated two tropical groups in Venezuela that were basically comparable, both being highly parasitized but one of which was urban and the other rural. The apparent incidence of allergic conditions in the urban group was, in fact, comparable to that in temperate countries, whereas that of the rural subjects was markedly lower. A similar difference was found in skin test positivity to common inhalant allergens, although reactivity to Ascaris extract was comparably high between the two groups, and total serum IgE and eosinophil levels were uniformly elevated. Our results suggest that the incidence of atopic disease in the topical environment may depend not only on the intensity of helminthiasis suffered but also on factors related to the urban-rural situation.

Adolescent↗