ABSTRACT
When 239 (1982) and 361 (1991) five-year and nine-year-old children in St. Kitts were assessed for the presence of parasitic infections, there were significant reductions in the prevalence of trichuriasis from 83 percent to 58 percent, of ascariasis from 24 percent to 8.6 percent and of giardiasis from 15 percent to 9 percent. Anthelminthic use, which appeared to be the most important responsible intervention tool, remained roughly at the same level at 59-51 percent. However, the types of anthelminthics used changed over the period. Pizerazine citrate, which was by 66 percent in 1982, only had 35 percent usuage in 1991. Albendazole which was not used at all in 1982 was taken by 32 percent of the children in 1991 and at the same time the use of laevo-tetramisole increased by 20 percent from 14 percent. Suggestions are made for an island-wide mass intervention programme to manage parasitic infections. (AU)
Subject(s)
Giardiasis/drug therapy , Giardiasis/epidemiology , Ascariasis/drug therapy , Ascariasis/epidemiology , Trichuriasis/drug therapy , Trichuriasis/epidemiology , Albendazole/therapeutic use , Levamisole/therapeutic use , PrevalenceABSTRACT
When 239 (1982) and 361 (1991) five-year and nine-year-old children in St. Kitts were assessed for the presence of parasitic infections, there were significant reductions in the prevalence of trichuriasis from 83 per cent to 58 per cent , of ascariasis from 24 per cent to 8.6 per cent and of giardiasis from 15 per cent to 9 per cent . Anthelminthic use, which appeared to be the most important responsible intervention tool, remained roughly at the same level at 59-51 per cent . However, the types of anthelminthics used changed over the period. Piperazine citrate, which was used by 66 per cent in 1982, only had 35 per cent usuage in 1991. Albendazole which was not used at all in 1982 was taken by 32 per cent of the children in 1991 and at the same time the use of laevo-tetramisole increased by 20 per cent from 14 per cent . Suggestions are made for an island-wide mass intervention programme to manage parasitic infections.
Subject(s)
Ascariasis/drug therapy , Ascariasis/epidemiology , Trichuriasis/drug therapy , Trichuriasis/epidemiology , Giardiasis/drug therapy , Giardiasis/epidemiology , Albendazole/therapeutic use , Levamisole/therapeutic use , PrevalenceABSTRACT
When 239 (1982) and 361 (1991) 5- and 9-year-old children in St.Kitts were assessed for the presence of parasitic infections there were significant reductions in the prevalence of trichuriasis from 83 percent to 58 percent, of ascariasis from 24 percent to 8.6 percent and of giardiasis from 15 percent to 9.4 percent. Health education appeared to be the most important responsible intervention tool. Anthelmintic use remained roughly at the same level. However, the types of anthelmintics used changed over the period. Piperazine citrate, which was used by 66 percent in 1982, only had 35 percent usage in 1991. Albendazole which was not used at all in 1982 was taken by 32 percent of the children in 1991, and, at the same time, use of laevotetramisole increased by 20 percent from 14 percent (AU)
