Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the major public health problems globally, particularly in developing countries like Egypt. This study aimed to evaluate prevalence and risk factors associated with IPIs among preschool and school children in Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 996 randomly selected preschool and school-aged children in Gharbia governorate during January to April 2018. Stool specimens were examined for the presence of the parasite by direct smear and the formol-ether concentration methods. The overall prevalence of IPIs was 46.2%. Entamoeba histolytica and Ascaris lumbricoides were the most predominant parasites (12.7% per each). This is followed by Enterobius vermicularis (8.6%), Giardia lamblia (7.1%), Cryptosporidium parvum (1.5%), Heterophyes heterophyes (1.4%), Hymenolepis nana (0.7%), Hookworms (0.6%), Fasciola hepatica (0.5%) and Dipylidium caninum (0.4%). Infected children with no symptoms (26.8%) were significantly (P < 0.001) more frequent than those with medical complaint (19.4%). Socio-demographic predictors of IPIs were preschool age (OR = 4.9; P < 0.001; 95%CI 3.3–7.3), living in rural dwellings (OR = 1.96; P < 0.001; 95%CI 1.5–2.5), and belonging to a low-income family (OR = 4.7; P < 0.001; 95%CI 2.3–9.3). The absence of safe drinking water, lack of hand washing (after soil contact, or before meals, or after toilet usage), and eating unwashed vegetables were risk factors for IPIs in the study region (OR = 1.3–6.9, P < 0.001 –P = 0.05). Higher odds for exposure to potential zoonotic parasites were evident in children with pets in their homes for G. lambia and D. caninum (OR = 2.1–8.3; P = 0.02 –P = 0.04), children having household reared ruminants for C. parvum (OR = 10.4; P < 0.001), and children that play with stray animals for E. histolytica and Hookworm (OR = 1.8–6.3; P = 0.04 –P = 0.05)compared to other children with no animal contact. The present study highlights the importance of periodic screening and treatment of IPIs in children, deworming companion animals, and public education for effective prevention of IPIs in children in Egypt.
Highlights
Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) represent a significant global public health alert in less developed countries because they result in high morbidity and mortality [1]
The identified helminthes were A. lumbricoides (12.7%), Enterobius vermicularis (8.6%), Heterophyes heterophyes (1.4%), Hymenolepis nana (0.7%), Hookworms (0.6%), Fasciola hepatica (0.5%) and Dipylidium caninum (0.4%) (Table 1).There was no significant difference between protozoan and helminthes infection rates in examined children (X2 = 3.6, P = 0.06)
This study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of IPIs and their associated risk factors among preschool and school children in the Tanta district of Gharbia governorate, Egypt, from January to April 2018
Summary
Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) represent a significant global public health alert in less developed countries because they result in high morbidity and mortality [1]. They cause over 33% of deaths worldwide [2]. Most diseases caused by the intestinal parasites (worms and protozoa) have been categorized as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) [3,4] that have been a significant problem in many developing countries. IPIs are associated with malabsorption, weight loss, anemia, poor growth rate (stunting), learning difficulties, mental retardation and intellectual problems [8,9]. Millions of preschoolers and school children are at high risk for infection with the protozoan and helminthic parasites [4], requiring effective preventive measures and treatment with deworming drugs at regular periods
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