ABSTRACT
Aims: The present study examined the influence of age, health care and hygienic habits on the prevalence of Candidaspecies in the human oral cavity and genitourinary tract.Study Design:The study was a cross sectional study.Place and Duration of Study:Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, between March 2006 and February 2007.Methodology:Oral and genitourinary samples were collected from 218 individuals (45 males, 173 females) within the ages of 12 and 67 years. Ninety-four of these volunteers responded to the questionnaire on health care and hygienic habits. The clinical specimen collected were cultured for the presence of Candidaspecies. The data obtained were statistically presented as means and percentages. Results:Out of 298 samples collected, 61/154 oral (19 males, 42females) and 53/144 genitourinary (0 male, 53 females) samples yielded growth of Candidaspecies. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Candida species between subjects who use toothpaste and those who use chewing stick for oral hygiene (P=0.93). Respondents who douched were more colonized with Candida26(39.39%) than those who did not (0%). Species of Candidawere significantly associated with the textile material of the undergarment (p = 0.044). Age significantly influenced the prevalence of Candidaspecies in the oral cavity(p < 0.05) but not in thegenitourinary tract (p = 0.612).Conclusion:The study recommends good personal hygiene and health care habits to reduce proliferation of Candida species
ABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Determinar la frecuencia y tipos de hábitos higiénicos vulvo-vaginales en mujeres chilenas. MÉTODOS: Estudio de corte transversal en 271 usuarias adultas que asistieron a centros ginecológicos primarios del sistema público y privado. Médico aplicó una encuesta de 7 preguntas con alternativas de respuestas cerradas para pesquisar la frecuencia y tipo de hábitos higiénicos íntimos. Se realizó estadística descriptiva utilizando modelos univariados y multivariados, expresando la magnitud de asociación como Odds Ratio. Se seleccionaron los modelos multivariados con mayor varianza mediante selección por pasos. RESULTADOS: Un 25% lava sus genitales una vez/día, 32% dos veces/día, 28% tres veces/día y 13% cuatro o más veces/día. Las mujeres del sistema público tienden a un aseo genital con frecuencias de dos a tres veces al día, mientras que las del sistema privado mayormente una y dos veces al día. El 56% de las mujeres, especialmente aquellas atendidas en consultas privadas, utiliza algún otro elemento adicional al agua, preferentemente jabones especiales. Las mujeres mayores y postmenopáusicas se asociaron a lavados genitales con elementos adicionales al agua. Las diabéticas presentaron una probabilidad 3 veces mayor de usar un jabón especial que las no diabéticas. CONCLUSIONES: Mujeres chilenas de ambos sistemas de atención, realizan aseo íntimo con una frecuencia entre una y tres veces al día en el 85% de las encuestadas. El 56% de ellas y el 75,6% de las que consultan en el sistema privado utilizan para el aseo genital algún otro elemento adicional al agua, preferentemente jabones especiales.
OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency and types of vulvovaginal hygienic habits that Chilean women have. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in 271 adult women who attended primary gynecological centers of public and private systems. A survey of 7 questions with closed-answer alternatives was undertaken by a physician in order to determine frequency and type of intimate hygiene. Descriptive statistics were performed by using univariate and multivariate models, expressing the magnitude of association as Odds Ratio. Multivariate models with higher variance were selected by stepwise selection. RESULTS: 25% washed their genitals once a day, 32% twice a day, 28% three times a day and 13% four or more times a day. Women attending public centers tend to wash their genitals two or three times a day, while the ones attending private centers do this mostly once or twice a day. 56% of women - especially those treated in private centers - use additional elements apart from water, preferably special soaps. Older and postmenopausal women were associated with the use of additional elements other than water. Diabetics were 3 times more likely to use a special soap than non-diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: 85% of chilean women of both health-care systems perform intimate hygiene between one and three times a day; 56% of them and 75.6% of those attending private centers use elements other than water, preferably special soaps.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Primary Health Care , Self Care/statistics & numerical data , Hygiene , Genitalia, Female , Gynecology , Obstetrics , Outpatients , Soaps , Vagina , Vulva , Health Behavior , Odds Ratio , Chile , Cross-Sectional Studies , Multivariate Analysis , Surveys and Questionnaires , Women's Health , Feminine Hygiene Products , HabitsABSTRACT
Introducción: actualmente la infección por Helicobacter pylori constituye la infección crónica más extensamente difundida en la especie humana, la cual puede cursar como síndrome dispéptico funcional u orgánico, gastritis, úlcera gastroduodenal y con síntomas subjetivos de cáncer gástrico. Diferentes estudios epidemiológicos cifran prácticamente en el 95 por ciento de los casos la asociación entre úlcera duodenal e infección por Helicobacter pylori. Objetivo: describir el comportamiento de algunas variables higiénicas-sanitarias en pacientes con úlceras gastroduodenales por Helicobacter pylori. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y prospectivo de corte transversal a 908 pacientes con diagnóstico de úlcera péptica y positiva al test rápido de ureasa, en el período comprendido desde enero de 2007 hasta diciembre de 2008, en el Centro de Diagnóstico Integral del municipio Rafael Urdaneta, estado Miranda, República Bolivariana de Venezuela. Resultados: predominaron los pacientes que mantenían una higiene alimentaria inadecuada; los que no hervían el agua para tomar; y los que compartían los cubiertos sin previo lavado, elementos que pueden favorecer la infección por Helicobacter pylori. Conclusiones: hay estrecha relación entre la infección por Helicobacter pylori y el hábito higiénico, siendo más frecuente en los pacientes con hábito higiénico inadecuado...
Introduction: the present infection caused by Helicobacter pylori is the most spread chronic infection in the human species, which could also appear as functional or organic dyspeptic syndrome, gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer and subjective symptoms of gastric cancer. Several epidemiological studies reveal that practically 95 percent of cases are associated to duodenal ulcer and H.pylori infection. Objective: to describe the behavior of some hygienic-sanitary variables in patients suffering H.pylori gastroduodenal ulcers. Methods: a prospective cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 908 patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer after positive rapid urease test in the period of January 2007 through December 2008 at the Integral Diagnosis Center of Rafael Urdaneta municipality in Miranda state, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Results: the patients who exhibited poor food hygiene, who did not boil drinking water and who shared unwashed cutlery prevailed. Those elements may favor H.pylori infection. Conclusions: close association between H. pylori infection and hygienic habits was found, being more frequent in patients with bad hygienic habits...
Subject(s)
Humans , Health Behavior , Helicobacter Infections/complications , Peptic Ulcer/etiology , Epidemiology, Descriptive , Prospective Studies , VenezuelaABSTRACT
Objetivo: estudiar la prevalencia de parasitosis intestinales en niños menores de 12 años, los hábitos higiénicos y las características de las viviendas, e investigar la presencia de bacterias en el agua de bebida.Métodos: estudio observacional descriptivo en 97 niños. Se hicieron coprológicos seriados hasta obtener resultados positivos o completar tres estudios negativos. Para detectar las bacterias en el agua se emplearon métodos cromógenos. Resultados: se encontraron parásitos en 81,4% de los niños, más frecuentemente protozoos(97,5%), a saber: Iodamoeba butchilii en 41,2%, Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (27,8%), Giardia intestinalis (24,7%). Entamoeba coli (16,5%), Endolimax nana (8,2%). No se obtuvo crecimiento de bacterias en las muestras de agua. Discusión: aunque el agua que consumen los habitantes de la vereda estudiada no contiene bacterias, se recomienda buscar en ella en un futuro protozoos, debido no solo a la alta prevalencia de parásitos encontrada sino a que la ausencia de bacterias coliformes en elagua no necesariamente implica la de protozoos y helmintos. La educación sobre las formas como se transmiten los parásitos intestinales y un cambio en los hábitos higiénicos son fundamentales para prevenir estas infecciones.
Objective: To study the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children under 12 years of age, their hygienic habits and the characteristics of the houses,and to detect bacteria in the drinking water. Methods: A descriptive observational study of 97 children. Stool specimens were examined until apositive result was obtained or until completing three negative tests. Chromogenic methods were used todetect bacteria in the drinking water.Results: Parasites were found in 81.4% of the children, with predominance of protozoa (97.5%), namely: Iodamoeba butchilii (41.2%), Entamoeba histolytica/ Entamoeba dispar (27.8%), Giardia intestinalis (24.7%), Entamoeba coli (16.5%), and Endolimax nana (8.2%). No bacterial growth was obtained in the water specimens. Discussion: Although bacteria were not found in the drinking water, the presence in it of protozoa should be studied in the future, not only because of the high prevalence of parasites found but also because negative results for coliform bacteria do not necessarilyimply the absence of parasites in the water. Education on the transmission of intestinal parasites and changes of the hygienic habits are essential for preventing these infections.