ABSTRACT
Two surveys of hookworm (Necator americanus) infections, conducted three years apart (December 1994 and January 1998) in a village in the Sikasso region of Mali, revealed that overall prevalence of infection was 68.7% and 53%, respectively. In both years there was a highly significant difference between the sexes in the prevalence and abundance of infection, with male subjects carrying heavier infections than females. Both prevalence and abundance of infection increased with age, although in 1998 there was a strong interaction between sex and age, arising from the declining egg counts among 16-20-year-old females and the continuing increase among males, reinforced by the subsequent reduction among the older males (> or = 61 years) and concomitant increase among females. After controlling for the effects of age, sex and their interaction, a highly significant positive relationship was detected between faecal egg counts of individuals who were examined in both 1994 and 1998 (n = 134), indicating predisposition to infection. This relationship remained significant in each of 4 age classes spanning 7-79 years. The members of some family compounds were shown to carry heavier infections than expected whilst others were less infected, suggesting compound-related clustering of hookworm infections. The use of footwear increased with age but there was no significant relationship between the extent of use of footwear and the abundance of hookworm infection. Eyesight deteriorated with age and impaired vision was particularly prominent among the older sectors of the community, a legacy from the time when onchocerciasis was widely prevalent in the region. Although men with partially damaged eyes carried lower infections than expected for their age, no overall significant relationship was found between quality of vision and hookworm infections. These results are discussed in relation to hookworm epidemiology in general and in Mali in particular.
Subject(s)
Hookworm Infections/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Cluster Analysis , Female , Humans , Male , Mali/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Parasite Egg Count , Sex Factors , Time Factors , Vision, OcularABSTRACT
L'appendicite aigue est une pathologie d'urgence chirurgicale assez frequente chez l'enfant qui pose un probleme de diagnostic et exige une prise en charge adequate. L'etude a pour objectifs de determiner la frequence des appendicites aigues par rapport aux autres urgences chirurgicales abdominales de l'enfant et de degager les facteurs pronostiques afin de preconiser des solutions visant a ameliorer le pronostic vital. Il s'agit d'une etude prospective qui a porte sur les enfants ages de 0 a 15 ans. Dans les resultats on note que: les appendicites aigues constituent la seconde cause des urgences chirurgicales abdominales chez les enfants apres les occlusions intestinales ; - elles augmentent de frequence avec l'age ; - le sexe n'a aucune influence sur la frequence ; - la guerison a ete obtenue chez tous les malades apres appendicectomie precoce ; - la constatation de 13 cas d'appendicite perforee revelee sous forme de peritonite montre le risque evolutif de l'affection. Les appendicites aigues constituent une urgence chirugicale abdominale frequente surtout chez le grand enfant et son pronostic est favorable si l'intervention chirurgicale est faite precocement