Cercarial Dermatitis In Kelantan, Malaysia An Occupation Related Health Problem

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Kelantan, an east coast state of Peninsular Malaysia is rich in culture and supports a population that is dependent on agriculture. The crops cultivated are mainly paddy and rubber but in recent years tobacco is beginning to gain importance over paddy. We centered our study around Bachok District which is about 25 kilometers east of Kota Bharu, the state capital. Methods: Based on case reports we focused our study on cercarial dermatitis and also recorded the socioeconomic status of the people in the four study villages. Result: The ducks and cows were the common livestock kept by the farmers and these were found to be significantly associated (P=0.05) with the occurrence of dermatitis. Cercariae shedding by snails were found in waters used for irrigation. Conclusion: The results indicate that cercarial dermatitis is occupation specific, and its debilitating effect was having an influence on the socioeconomic status and general wellbeing of the population in these villages. The dermatitis occurred only during the field preparation and transplanting stages of paddy and was found to be significantly associated (P=<0.05) with the source of water used for irrigation. The water sources for irrigation was mainly from the river and irrigation canal and the snail Indoplanorbis exustus infected with schistosome cercariae was found to be abundant in both these sources during these stages. The ducks and cows were the common livestock kept by the farmers and these were also found to be significantly associated (P=0.05) with the occurrence of dermatitis. Therefore we concluded that the dermatitis among paddy farmers in Bachok District was due to an animal schistosome.