ABSTRACT
Cercarial dermatitis [CD] or swimmer's itch | is a hypersensitive reaction to the skin penetration of avian and herbivorous schistosomes, esp. genus Trichobilharzia. Owing to presence of both intermediate and final host of this parasite in North of Iran, we aimed at determining the prevalence of CD among paddy-field workers in central areas of Mazandaran Province. To perform this descriptive-cross sectional study, we refer to bird refuges of migrating water and Paddy-field around man-made ponds of Babol, Sari, Ghaemshahr and Savadkoh districts. The Hand and foot of the farmers were examined clinically for detection of infected people and their signs and symptoms were recorded on a sheet of paper. Based on the results, 77.5% of the workers suffer from CD. All of them are males and the majority of them are indigenous. High prevalence of Cercarial dermatitis among paddy-field workers led to a health dilemma. Thus, by increasing awareness of farmers, implementing suitable approaches, controlling the disease and sanitizing the contaminated areas can promote health situation
ABSTRACT
Intestinal parasites, esp. giardiasis are the most common gastrointestinal infection disorders in the world, especially in north of Iran. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections in the stool samples of the people living in the central areas of Mazandaran province. In this descriptive study, 4223 human fecal samples were randomly collected from different areas in different seasons in the central regions of Mazandaran province, from Oct 2009 to Sept 2010. The Samples were assessed by direct smear and formalin-ether method. We analyzed the data by using Chi-square and T test. Of 4223 stool samples, 75 [17.9%] have at least one type of parasite. The rate of infection with intestinal protozoa is 15.9% including 8.1% with B. Hominis, 6.4% with G. lamblia, and 1.9% with intestinal worms [S. stercolaris and Strongyloides larvae] .The prevalence rate is 6.1% in rural, 5.9% in urban and 5.8% in mountainous areas. Considering the seasons, the prevalence in the urban area in summer [4/39%], rural area in spring [32%] and mountainous area in fall [28%] are reported. Statistically no significant differences between different regions and seasons have been observed [P> 0.05]. Based on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections, especially in the central part of Mazandaran province in different seasons, early diagnosis and treatment of the patients and public health promotion could be effective to prevent and control these infections in north of Iran