ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effectiveness and usefulness of vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus in different age groups in Gaza, Palestine. Blood samples were collected from 180 children aged <12 years, 90 males and 90 females. Using ELISA methods, the efficacy of vaccination was estimated at 87.8% for diphtheria and 98.3% for tetanus. Mean serum titres varied significantly by age group: for diphtheria 0.24 IU/mL at age 2-4 years, 0.63 IU/mL at 7-8 years and 0.46 IU/mL at 11-12 years, and for tetanus 1.01 IU/mL, 2.63 IU/mL and 1.20 IU/mL respectively. The relatively low antibody titres, especially for diphtheria, suggest the need for a booster dose.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Clostridium tetani/immunology , Corynebacterium diphtheriae/immunology , Diphtheria Toxoid/immunology , Tetanus Toxoid/immunology , Vaccination , Age Distribution , Analysis of Variance , Child , Child, Preschool , Diphtheria/epidemiology , Diphtheria/prevention & control , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Immunization Schedule , Immunization, Secondary , Male , Middle East/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Tetanus/epidemiology , Tetanus/prevention & control , Vaccination/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effectiveness and usefulness of vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus in different age groups in Gaza, Palestine. Blood samples were collected from 180 children aged < 12 years, 90 males and 90 females. Using ELISA methods, the efficacy of vaccination was estimated at 87.8% for diphtheria and 98.3% for tetanus. Mean serum titres varied significantly by age group: for diphtheria 0.24 IU/mL at age 2-4 years, 0.63 IU/mL at 7-8 years and 0.46 IU/mL at 11-12 years, and for tetanus 1.01 IU/mL, 2.63 IU/mL and 1.20 IU/mL respectively. The relatively low antibody titres, especially for diphtheria, suggest the need for a booster dose
Subject(s)
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Antibodies , Immunization, Secondary , Diphtheria-Tetanus VaccineABSTRACT
The prevalence of intestinal parasites and their relations to anaemia and nutritional status among school children aged 6-11 years in Gaza was studied. The target area is overcrowded with improper sewage disposal system and low socioeconomic levels. Anaemia was assessed by haemoglobin level (Hb) and nutritional status by anthropometric measurements including weight for age (WA), weight for height (WH) and height for age (HA). Intestinal parasites were found to be prevalent in Gaza. The overall prevalence was 24.5%. Giardia lamblia (62.2%) was the most common parasite detected particularly in age group 6-7 years, followed by Ascaris Iumbricoides (20.0%), then Entamoeba histolytica (18.0%). Parasitosis was generally declining with older age groups for both sexes. In general, the prevalence of anaemia was more common in the younger children. Malnutrition was found to be prevalent among children. Infected children of age group 8-9 years showed higher incidence of low WA than non infected ones. The prevalence of stunting and wasting among infected children of the youngest group was greater than that observed for controls. Regarding sex, no specific trend that relates the prevalence of anaemia with sex. Malnutrition was more prevalent among females than males.
Subject(s)
Hemoglobins/analysis , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle East/epidemiology , Nutritional Status , PrevalenceABSTRACT
A total of 489 stool specimens were collected from school children aged 6-11 years. The target area is overcrowded, with improper sewage disposal system and low socioeconomic standards. A questionnaire was designed to include relevant informations. Each stool specimen was processed by the direct smear microscopy, zinc sulphate flotation technique and formol-ether sedimentation technique. The present study revealed an overall prevalence at 27.6%. Six parasites were detected. Giardia lamblia (62.2%) was the most frequent species found, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (20.1%) then, Entamoeba histolytica (13.3%). The prevalence of these parasites was found to be related to age, socioeconomic and sanitation conditions. Most of the other parasitic infections were of mild intensity. There is an urgent need to correct the present situation by improving the living conditions, providing facilities for the population such as modern housing, proper sewage disposal system, health education and execution of survey programs for parasites to treat the infected persons.
