Mukhopadhyay Chiranjay, Wilson Godwin, Chawla Kiran, Vs Binu, Shivananda P G
Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Karnataka, India.
BMC Public Health. 2008 Mar 27;8:98. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-98.
Geohelminth infections are a major problem of children from the developing countries. Children with these infections suffer from developmental impairments and other serious illnesses. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of geohelminth infection, infection intensity as well as the change in the intensity in children from Western Nepal over years.
This 6-year hospital based prospective study at the Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara included children (< 15 years) visiting the hospital from Kaski and 7 surrounding districts. Samples were also collected from children in the community from different medical camps. Three stool samples from every child were processed using direct and concentration methods. The Kato-Katz technique was used for measuring the intensity of infection.
The overall prevalence in hospital - attending children was 9.2% with 7.6% in preschool (0 - 5 y) and 11.0% in school-age (6 - 15 y) children, and in community 17.7% with 14.8% in pre-school and 20.5% in school-age children. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma deodenale and Strongyloides stercoralis were the common geohelminths with a gradual decrease in worm load over the years. School-age children were found to be significantly more prone to geohelminth infection as compared to preschool children, but no statistical difference was detected by gender, district as well as season.
This heavy infection of geohelminths in children should be corrected by appropriate medication and maintaining strict personal hygiene. Health education, clean water, good sewage management and a congenial environment should be ensured to minimise infection.
土源性蠕虫感染是发展中国家儿童面临的一个主要问题。患有这些感染的儿童会出现发育障碍和其他严重疾病。本研究旨在测量尼泊尔西部儿童土源性蠕虫感染的患病率、感染强度以及多年来感染强度的变化。
这项在博卡拉马尼帕尔教学医院进行的为期6年的基于医院的前瞻性研究纳入了来自卡斯基及其周边7个地区、年龄小于15岁且到该医院就诊的儿童。还从不同医疗营地的社区儿童中采集了样本。对每个儿童的三份粪便样本采用直接法和浓缩法进行处理。采用加藤厚涂片法测量感染强度。
在就诊儿童中，总体患病率为9.2%，其中学龄前儿童（0 - 5岁）为7.6%，学龄儿童（6 - 15岁）为11.0%；在社区中，总体患病率为17.7%，其中学龄前儿童为14.8%，学龄儿童为20.5%。蛔虫、鞭虫、十二指肠钩虫和粪类圆线虫是常见的土源性蠕虫，多年来虫负荷量逐渐下降。与学龄前儿童相比，学龄儿童被发现更容易感染土源性蠕虫，但在性别、地区和季节方面未检测到统计学差异。
儿童中土源性蠕虫的这种重度感染应通过适当用药和保持严格的个人卫生来纠正。应确保健康教育、清洁用水、良好的污水管理和适宜的环境，以尽量减少感染。
