Determinant factors associated with parasitic infestation among pediatric cases with unexplained eosinophilia

Background: In tropical countries like India, common causes of eosinophilia are parasitic infestation, unhygienic living condition, and poor sanitation that accounts for high worm infestation in India. Objective: The present study was aimed to study the association between various risk factors and parasitic infestation in pediatric cases with unexplained eosinophilia. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised of 384 children. A well predesigned and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect detailed related history and sociodemographic details. Saline and iodine wet mount of stool sample was made to detect intestinal parasites. For detection of microfilaria, Leishman’s staining of peripheral blood smear was done. Finally, the statistical analysis of the collected data was carried out. Results: Out of 384 participants, 7.03% of the total population was found to be positive for intestinal parasites. None of the peripheral blood smears showed the presence of microfilaria. Most of the positive study participants were from low or middle socioeconomic sectors. Very few parents were graduates. 6.5% of children in this category were found to show parasites in their stool samples. Hygiene status, hand washing, and stool disposal habits of patients were found to be significantly associated with the presence of the parasite. Conclusion: Possible sociodemographic, environmental and behavioral factors associated with parasitic infestation among pediatric cases with unexplained eosinophilia need to be studied to implement effective control measures so as to provide better health care and health benefits to the children.

Nutritional status of kashmiri children (2-10 years) suffering from parasitic infestation: A hospital based study.

Background:Worms are among the major causes of human misery and death in the world today. An important source of nutritional and energetic stress in many populations is infectious diseases, such as diarrheal disease, respiratory infections, and parasitic infections. The helminthes disease in Kashmir valley particularly the Ascariasis is mainly present in children from low socio-economic status. Kashmiri Children are most vulnerable to developing malnutrition and are likely to suffer from the effects of helminthiasis. Objective: The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between Helminthic infection and nutritional status of the Kashmiri children. Methodology: An analysis of 100 patients (both boys and girls) suffering from parasitic infestation in the age group of 2-10 years was done in the present study. On the basis of clinical presentations, physical findings the nutritional status of Kashmiri children suffering from parasitic infestation was determined. Results:The majority of the patients belong to the age group of 2-4 years, correlation between higher prevalence of parasitism and poor environment situation was observed and malnutrition is observed a major cause of the disease. Mothers of patients had low literacy rate as comparison to father. Majority of the patients had the MAC, chest circumference as well as head circumference much less than the normal. Interpretation & conclusion:Kashmirichildren suffering from parasitic infestation have a very poor nutritional status, Anorexia, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Fever, Respiratory infection;Anaemia and Dry cough were major complaints in all patients. Lack of personal hygiene, exclusive use of unboiled water, pica and field defecation increased risk of worm infestation. Helminthiasis is a common health problem among preschool children. Its association with malnutrition dictates that urgent steps need to be taken to prevent children from being infested if under –five mortality is to be reduced. This may be achieved through improvement in sanitary conditions of the environment, deworming and proper nutrition of the child.

Nutritional status, EPI results of children under five years old and parasitic infestation of Ruc ethnic minority in Thuong Hoa - Quang Binh province

A athropometry survey was conducted on 102 Ruc ethinic minority living in Thuong Hoa commune, Quang Binh province. The results showed that the general rates of intestinal parasitic-infestation was 91.2%, ascaris infestation rate was 71.6%, ankylostoma parasitic rate was 62.7%. The malnutrition rate among children under five years of age was 68.3%. Rate of children receiving adequate immunizations was 45.5%. Measles campaign vaccination rate in 2003 was 91.3%

Efeito do sistema de manejo sobre o comportamento em pastejo, desempenho ponderal e infestação parasitária em ovinos Suffolk

Grazing behaviour, ponderal growth and level of parasitic infestation were studied in Suffolk breed sheep, from 1994 to 1995, in Nova Odessa, São Paulo. Two management systems were compared: restricted grazing, where the animals were released to the pastures at 9:50 a.m. and confined at 5:30 p.m., and 24 hour grazing, where the animals were maintained all the time in the paddocks, but with access to shelters. Thirty-four adult ewes were used in the summer period (17 under restricted grazing and 17 full-time grazing), and 42 ewes in the winter period (21 with restricted grazing and 21 full-time grazing). Also, for both seasons, 12 tracer animals, six in each grazing system, were used to obtain worm counts from their digestive tracts. For three consecutive days, grazing behaviour, that is, whether grazing or not, was observed in January/February (summer) and July/August (winter) at 30 minute intervals from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., also whether the animals stayed in the sun or shade, irrespective of whether they were grazing or not. The level of parasitic infestation was evaluated under each system by eggs per gram countings (EPG) of the herd and the tracer animals, as well as by larvae count. It was concluded that restriction of grazing time by itself does not provide any effective control of parasitic infestation in sheep, however a better control was obtained in the summer period. Restricted grazing time was compensated by the greater activity of the animals during the hotter hours of the day, however, this behaviour affected the animal performance, resulting in lower weight gains. Greater forage availability in relation to estimated consumption may explain the similarity between the grazing times observed in both management systems, either in the summer or in the winter.

Foi estudado o comportamento em pastejo, o desempenho ponderal e o nível de infestação parasitária em ovelhas da raça Suffolk, no período de 1994 a 1995, em Nova Odessa, SP. Comparou-se dois sistemas de manejo: pastejo restrito, onde os animais foram soltos às 9:50h e presos às 17:30h e pastejo em período integral, no qual os animais não eram recolhidos, tendo a disposição abrigo para passarem a noite. Foram utilizadas 34 fêmeas adultas no verão (17 em pastejo livre e 17 em pastejo restrito) e 42 fêmeas adultas no inverno (21 em pastejo livre e 21 em pastejo restrito). Trabalhou-se ainda com 12 animais traçadores em cada estação do ano, sendo metade em cada sistema de manejo visando a contagem de nematódeos no trato digestivo dos animais. Durante 3 dias consecutivos nos meses de janeiro/fevereiro (verão) e julho/agosto (inverno) estudou-se, através da observação dos animais, a cada 30 minutos entre as 7:00 e 17:30h, o hábito de pastejo (pastando ou não; na sombra ou no sol). Acompanhou-se o nível de infestação parasitária dos animais em cada sistema, pela contagem do OPG do rebanho e dos traçadores e nematódeos recuperados nos traçadores. Concluiu-se que a restrição do horário de pastejo isoladamente não propiciou um controle efetivo da infestação parasitária nos animais mostrando. A restrição do tempo de pastejo é compensada pela maior atividade dos animais nas horas mais quentes do dia, todavia este comportamento afetou o desempenho, resultando em menor ganho de peso. A maior disponibilidade de forragem, em relação ao consumo estimado, pode explicar a similaridade entre os tempos de pastejo verificados nos dois sistemas de manejo, tanto no verão como no inverno.

Prevalence of parasitic infestation in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

A total stool specimens of paediatric out-patients who came to clinic with the complaint of abdominal pain were examined for intestinal parasites. Twenty-nine specimens were positive (21.0%) for intestinal parasites. During preschool period, male children are more infested than female. G. lamblia (13%) was commonly found in the specimens. A. lumbricoides, hookworm, T. trichiura, S. stercolaris and E. vermicularis were occasionally found. G. lamblia was the most prevalent parasite in paediatric patients with recurrent abdominal pain.