Mass treatment for intestinal helminthiasis control in an Amazonian endemic area in Brazil.
The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and evaluate the sanitary conditions and the role of a mass treatment campaign for control of these infections in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2002, to obtain data related to the sanitary conditions of the population and fecal samples for parasitological examination in 308 individuals, followed by a mass treatment with albendazole or mebendazole with coverage of 83% of the city population in 2003. A new survey was carried out in 2004, involving 214 individuals, for comparison of the prevalences of intestinal parasitosis before and after the mass treatment. The prevalences of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection were 48%; 27% and 21% respectively in 2002. There was a significant decrease for the frequency of infections by Ascaris lumbricoides (p < 0.05; OR / 95% CI = 0.44 / 0.30 - 0.65), Trichuris trichiura (p < 0.05; OR / 95% CI = 0.37 / 0.22 - 0.62), hookworm (p < 0.05; OR / 95% CI = 0.03 / 0.01 - 0.15) and helminth poliparasitism (p < 0.05; OR / 95% CI = 0.16 / 0.08 - 0.32). It was also noticed a decrease of prevalence of infection by Entamoeba histolytica / dispar (p < 0.05; OR / 95% CI = 0.30 / 0.19 - 0.49) and non-pathogenic amoebas. It was inferred that a mass treatment can contribute to the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis as a practicable short-dated measure. However, governmental plans for public health, education and urban infrastructure are essential for the sustained reduction of prevalences of those infections.
Bóia
Márcio Neves
MN
Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Tropical, IOC, FiocruzRJ, Brasil.
Carvalho-Costa
Filipe Anibal
FA
Sodré
Fernando Campos
FC
Eyer-Silva
Walter A
WA
Lamas
Cristiane Cruz
CC
Lyra
Marcelo Rosadinski
MR
Pinto
Vitor Laerte
VL
Cantalice Filho
João Paulo
JP
Oliveira
Ana Lucia L
AL
Carvalho
Liège M Abreu
LM
Gross
Julise B
JB
Sousa
Ana Lucia S
AL
Moraes
Teruo Ito de
TI
Bermudez-Aza
Elkin Hernán
EH
Martins
Ezequias Baptista
EB
Coura
José Rodrigues
JR
D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000871:Anthelmintics; D008463:Mebendazole; D015766:Albendazole