[Comparative study on knowledge about tuberculosis in two cities with different tuberculosis epidemiological index in Khuzestan, 2004]

Tuberculosis [TB] is a global health problem. One of the most important and effective ways of TB control is health education. Health planning depends on public health needs. The aim of this study was to assess the general population's knowledge about tuberculosis. This study is a comparative descriptive study which was conducted in 2004 in Behbahan and Omidieh, two cities in Khuzestan province with different TB epidemiological index. Nine hundred and seventy five individuals referring to health centers of these cities were asked to answer questions about TB. Data were obtained from questionnaires with 92% reliability and 98%validity and were analyzed with SPSS software using t test with 95% confidence. Of total 975 individuals 546 [56%] were living in Behbahan and 429 [44%] in Omidieh. Mean knowledge score for signs and symptoms, transmission and control of tuberculosis in Behbahan and Omidieh were 26, 10, 13 and 14, 6, 9 respectively. There was a significant difference in tuberculosis knowledge between two cities [P<0.05]

[Frequency of anti toxocara antibodies in schoolchildren with chronic cough and eosinophilia in urban and rural area of Ahvaz, Iran in 2006]

It has been suggested that chronic cough may be atributed to toxocariasis. There are few epidemiological studies carried out on this subject in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-toxocara antibodies in children with chronic cough. In a cross sectional study during a tuberculin survey in Ahvaz, a city in southwest Iran a total of 4206 children selected by randomized two-stage cluster sampling. Children with chronic cough were investigated for toxocariasis. Initially, the absolute eosinophil count was determined. Next, children with eosinophilia [>500/mm[3]] and hypereosinophilia [>1000/mm[3]] were tested for toxocara-IgG - ELISA kit [Ibl, Hamburg]. Other epidemiological data collected by a questionnaire and analyzed with 95% confidence interval using SPSS 11.5 software. Of total 115 children with chronic cough 29 [25.2%] were eosinophilic, among them 34.5% were hypereosinophilic, 16 [13.9%] were ELISA-IgG positive for T. canis. No correlation between intestinal parasites and toxocariasis was detected [P>0.05]. There was also no significant age, gender, and living site difference in toxocara antibody frequency [P>0.05]. Anti toxocara antibody was detected in more than half of children with chronic cough. Intestinal parasites are not associated with hypereosinophilia and show no cross reacting to toxocara antibody