[Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in a rural area of Settat, Morocco]

We evaluated the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in a rural population of Settat and its relationship with intestinal parasitosis and living conditions. The sample comprised 336 subjects living in 3 clusters. Rhinitis was evaluated using the ISAAC questionnaire. Prevalence of rhinitis was 37.8%. It was higher in those aged 15-49 years, illiterate subjects, active smokers, those presenting with overweight and those with hypereosinophilia. It was significantly lower in children < 10 years. Rhinitis was associated with sibship size and literacy, but not with intestinal parasitosis and helminth infections

Intestinal parasitosis and use of untreated wastewater for agriculture in Settat, Morocco

An evaluation was made of the risk of contamination by faecal parasites in the population from the use of wastewater in agriculture. The study was based in 3 rural clusters in the northern region of Settat city, Morocco: 2 rural clusters exposed to untreated wastewater in agriculture and 1 not exposed. The sample comprised 333 people aged 3-60+ years: 214 exposed and 119 non-exposed. Stool samples were collected and examined for intestinal parasites. The results showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis [i.e. evidence of at least 1 type of parasite] in the exposed group was significantly higher that the non-exposed group [66.4% versus 31.9%; relative risk 2.1]. The household crowding index was also higher in the exposed group