Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Epidemiology Directorate, Regional Health Directorate of Loreto, Iquitos, Loreto, Peru.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Jul 25;16(7):e0010532. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010532. eCollection 2022 Jul.
There is evidence of the occurrence of trachoma in Peru, and studies have shown that soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are affecting rural communities in the Amazon basin in Loreto Department. This study was done to estimate trachoma prevalence, STH prevalence, and the associated factors for both diseases in children aged 1-9 years in rural communities of Peru.
A population-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in rural communities of Loreto. A standardized survey questionnaire with individual and household risk factors related to both diseases was used. Ocular examination was done for all participants aged one year and above, and eye swab samples were collected from children with follicular trachoma (TF). Anthropometric measurements, stool samples for STH, and blood samples for hemoglobin measurement were taken from children.
TF prevalence was 7.74% (95% CI 5.08-11.63%), STH prevalence was 49.49% (95% CI 25.00-52.43%), and prevalence of co-occurrence of both diseases was 5.06% (95% CI 2.80-8.98%) in children aged 1-9 years. Being at age 3-8 years old (AOR = 6.76; 95% CI 1.346-33.947), have an unclean face (AOR = 24.64; 95% CI 6.787-89.444), and having been dewormed in the last six months (AOR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.106-5.514), were risk factors of TF. Being a female (AOR = 0.22; 95% CI 0.103-0.457) was associated with decreased odds of TF. Having been dewormed in the last six months (AOR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.139-0.628) was a preventative factor for STH. Risk factors for children with both diseases mirrored the findings for risk factors for individual diseases.
Neglected tropical diseases and associated risk factors overlap in communities living in vulnerable conditions in the Amazon basin of Peru. These findings support the need to implement integrated interventions, including mass drug administration, water, sanitation, and hygiene for both diseases in the study area.
秘鲁存在沙眼流行的证据，研究表明，土壤传播性蠕虫病（STH）正在影响亚马逊流域洛雷托省的农村社区。本研究旨在评估秘鲁农村社区 1-9 岁儿童中沙眼和 STH 的流行率以及这两种疾病的相关因素。
在洛雷托省的农村社区进行了一项基于人群的横断面调查。使用了一份标准化的调查问卷，其中包含与这两种疾病相关的个人和家庭风险因素。对所有 1 岁及以上的参与者进行眼部检查，并从滤泡性沙眼（TF）儿童中采集眼部拭子样本。对儿童进行人体测量、粪便样本检测 STH 和血红蛋白测量血样采集。
1-9 岁儿童 TF 患病率为 7.74%（95%CI 5.08-11.63%），STH 患病率为 49.49%（95%CI 25.00-52.43%），两种疾病同时患病率为 5.06%（95%CI 2.80-8.98%）。3-8 岁（AOR = 6.76；95%CI 1.346-33.947）、面部不洁（AOR = 24.64；95%CI 6.787-89.444）和过去六个月内驱虫（AOR = 2.47；95%CI 1.106-5.514）是 TF 的危险因素。女性（AOR = 0.22；95%CI 0.103-0.457）患病几率较低。过去六个月内驱虫（AOR = 0.30；95%CI 0.139-0.628）是 STH 的预防因素。同时患有两种疾病的儿童的危险因素与单独患有这两种疾病的儿童的危险因素相同。
在秘鲁亚马逊流域生活在脆弱环境中的社区中，被忽视的热带病和相关的危险因素相互重叠。这些发现支持在研究区域实施包括大规模药物治疗、水、环境卫生和个人卫生在内的综合干预措施的必要性。
