Foodborne nematodal infections in hospitalized patients from a southwestern Romanian county.
OBJECTIVE
Caras-Severin County presented the highest incidence of human trichinellosis (108.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) throughout Romania in 1993. This study aimed at providing an overview of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of persons from this county hospitalized with nematodal infections between 1996 and 2008.


METHODS
Data were collected from the medical records of 269 patients admitted to two infectious diseases hospitals and found to have nematode helminthic infections.


RESULTS
Of the study group, 250 patients (92.9%) presented with trichinellosis, 10 (3.7%) with ascariasis, 7 (2.6%) with trichuriasis, and 2 (0.8%) with ascariasis and trichuriasis coinfections. Geohelminthic infections prevailed in children (68.4%). Giardiasis, a protozoan parasitic disease, was also found in 21 patients (7.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Although trichinellosis cases decreased in this county, public health authorities must remain aware because new outbreaks may occur at any time as it happened in the neighboring counties. Regarding geohelminthiasis, parents must be aware of the potential risk of acquiring these infections and the major complications that may follow.
Neghina
Raul
R
Department of Parasitology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. raul.neghina@gmail.com
Neghina
Adriana Maria
AM
Marincu
Iosif
I
Moldovan
Roxana
R
Iacobiciu
Ioan
I
D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009348:Nematoda / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology