High prevalence of intestinal worms in children up to 5 years of age in Huaphan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR)

Antony P Black,Fabrice Quet,Phonepadith Khattignavong,Claude P Muller,Yves Buisson,Satoshi Nakamura,Lavy Lorphachan,Naphavanh Nanthavong,Keooudomphone Vilivong,Sylvie Goossens

doi:10.1016/j.parepi.2017.06.001

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infection is high in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), reaching 62% among school-children. However, this prevalence presents wide regional variations, due to differences in healthcare access and environmental factors. Curiously, there are few studies on helminth infections in pre-school children – an age group targeted by the national de-worming campaign. Therefore, a preliminary study was conducted in a remote region of Huaphan Province, North Laos, to determine the prevalence of helminth infections in pre-school children. ResultsA total of 74 pre-school aged children provided stool samples for this study. Parasite eggs were detected in 41.9% with Ascaris lumbricoides being most common (32.4%). Presence of parasites was significantly associated with distance from health centres. ConclusionsSuch a high prevalence of helminth infection indicates that the national deworming campaign is not adequate in the remote areas, in particular in villages distant from health care centres. It is necessary to ensure the proper administration of anti-helminthics to all children and to adapt the implementation of deworming campaigns to the specificities of each province.

Highlights

A nationwide study looking at prevalence of intestinal parasite infections among primary school children between 2000 and 2003 indicated high prevalence of helminth infection (61.9%) with large regional variation (Rim et al, 2003)
Another study in a similar age group in the south of Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) found a similar prevalence of 37.7% (Kounnavong et al, 2011)
This prevalence is lower than those reported in school aged children prior to the deworming strategy (91.2% in Huaphan) (Rim et al, 2003), this may be due to a beneficial effect of the deworming campaign

Summary

Introduction

Due to easier accessibility and higher perceived burden of infection, the majority of studies on intestinal parasitic infections in Lao PDR have focused on adults or school-aged children (Sayasone et al, 2009; Rim et al, 2003; Watthanakulpanich et al, 2013; Conlan et al, 2012; Soukhathammavong et al, 2012), with scarce data on preschool-aged children (Sayasone et al, 2011; Kounnavong et al, 2011). A nationwide study looking at prevalence of intestinal parasite infections among primary school children between 2000 and 2003 indicated high prevalence of helminth infection (61.9%) with large regional variation (Rim et al, 2003). This and other studies stimulated the introduction of a national deworming programme, which was initiated at the school level in 2005 (National Health Statistic Report FY 2010–2011, 2011). The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infection is high in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), reaching 62% among school-children This prevalence presents wide regional variations, due to differences in healthcare access and environmental factors. It is necessary to ensure the proper administration of anti-helminthics to all children and to adapt the implementation of deworming campaigns to the specificities of each province

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Conclusion