Abstract
BackgroundAn earthquake in the coffee growing region of Colombia on January 25, 1999 destroyed 70% of the houses in Armenia city. Transitory housing camps still remained until two years after the disaster. Parasitological studies found that, in this population, giardiasis was the most frequent parasitic infection. This study was carried out in order to determine the epidemiological risk factors associated with this high prevalence.MethodsFecal samples were obtained from 217 children aged between 3 and 13 years. Stool samples were studied by direct wet examination and stained with ferric hematoxilin for microscopical examination. Epidemiological data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by using the Epi-info software (CDC, Atlanta 2001).ResultsGiardia cysts were observed in 60.4% of the samples presented and trophozoites in 4.6%. The following epidemiological and laboratory factors were significantly associated with Giardia infection: 1. Use of communal toilet (vs. individual toilet) OR: 3.9, CI95%: 1.2–16; 2. water provision by municipal ducts (vs. water provision by individual tanks) OR: 3.5, CI95% 1.1–14, and 3. presence of mucus in stool OR: 2.3, IC95%: 0.9–6.7.ConclusionsA high prevalence of giardiasis was found in children living in temporary houses after the 1999 earthquake in Armenia (Colombia). Giardiasis is an emerging disease in post-disaster situations and adequate prevention measures should be implemented during these circumstances.
Highlights
An earthquake in the coffee growing region of Colombia on January 25, 1999 destroyed 70% of the houses in Armenia city
We found that a higher prevalence was associated mainly with communal toilets and municipal duct provision at camp, which indicates that both factors favored dissemination of giardiasis in temporary camps after the disaster
In Armenia the earthquake damaged the municipal system of water ducts [2]; this probably induced their contamination, explaining the high rate of giardiasis that we found in children
Summary
An earthquake in the coffee growing region of Colombia on January 25, 1999 destroyed 70% of the houses in Armenia city. The region known as "Departmento del Quindío" includes, according to the political and administrative division of the Colombian territory, several small towns and its capital city, Armenia. The whole area of influence of the telluric movement is known as "Eje Cafetero" (Coffee Axis), because it is here that most of the world famous Colombian coffee is produced. This area is located within the country's central mountain range.
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