title: Burden of Fasciola hepatica Infection among children from Paucartambo in Cusco, Peru.
abstract: There is a high prevalence of fascioliasis in the Peruvian highlands, but most cases remain undiagnosed. The burden of disease caused by chronic subclinical infection is largely unknown. We studied school-age children from a district in Paucartambo Province in Cusco, Peru to evaluate the burden of disease caused by subclinical fascioliasis. Parasite eggs and/or larvae were identified in 46.2% of subjects, including Fasciola hepatica in 10.3% of subjects. Fascioliasis was independently associated with anemia (adjusted odds ratio = 3.01 [1.10-8.23]). Subclinical fascioliasis was common among children and strongly associated with anemia. Anemia should be recognized as an important component of the burden of disease from fascioliasis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Clinico Ser Salud, Cusco, Peru.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: A Clinton
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Miguel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cabada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence