Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and correlation with hemoglobin blood concentration among school-age children in Yagoua, Cameroon (Logone Valley)

Autor/Urheber	A.C. Lonati; R. Mahamat Youssuf; B.B. Otchom; M.M. Pontello
Titel	Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and correlation with hemoglobin blood concentration among school-age children in Yagoua, Cameroon (Logone Valley)
Quelle	Aus: Conference Louis Pasteur Emerging Infectious Diseases. (2014) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; Sammelwerksbeitrag
Schlagwörter	parasitic infections; intestinal parasitic infections; hemoglobin; anemia; developing countries; Settore MED/42 - Igiene Generale e Applicata
Abstract	Objective: In developing countries, parasitic infections result in considerable gastrointestinal morbidity, malnutrition and mortality, especially among children, probably also contributing to anemia through iron deficiency. Distribution is influenced by behavioral, environmental and socioeconomic factors (poverty, poor sanitation/hygienic practices and lack of clean water and safe food). Intervention setting is located in Logone Valley (Cameroon): here foodborne and waterborne diseases are widespread, especially for microbiologically unsafe surface water consumption. Aim of this cross-sectional study is to describe intestinal parasitic infections' prevalence in school-age children and infection status correlation with hemoglobin concentration, supporting the development of control measures. Methods: The study was conducted in February 2012 in a public school in Yagoua. Children (5 to 8 years old, both male and female) underwent a clinical assessment and filled a nutritional and health questionnaire. Participants were screened for intestinal parasites: stool specimens were examined through macroscopic (consistency) and microscopic evaluation (presence and amount of eggs, cysts and trophozoites) using direct saline and iodine preparation. Additionally, a complete blood count was performed. Data entry and analysis were done using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS 20. Results: 175 children were enrolled: 93 (53%) resulted negative while 82 (47%) were infected with one or more parasites. Male and female prevalences were not statistically different (48.7% versus 45.1%). Most widespread parasite was Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (41/175, 23.4%), followed by Giardia lamblia (28/175, 16%), Hymelonepis nana (17/175, 9.7%) and Trichomonas intestinalis (3/175, 1.7%). 93 children (53%) underwent blood tests, with no difference in hemoglobin concentration between infected and non-infected (11.65±1.02 g/dL versus 11.50±0.80 g/dL). Moreover, prevalence of anemic and non-anemic is equal in both groups (cut-off 11.5 g/dL). Conclusions: This was the first study in Logone Valley assessing parasite distribution in school-aged children. A high prevalence (near 50%) was found, with 4% of multiple infections, suggesting that deworming campaigns' implementation might be a good option for disease control. No association between anemia and infections was demonstrated and literature on this topic is controversial. These findings might help policy makers improving prevention strategies in this area, like safe water use and consumption, hand hygiene campaigns and health education programs.
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