title: Epidemiology of ascariasis, enterobiasis and giardiasis in a Romanian western county (Timis), 1993-2006.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to bring new and important data regarding the epidemiology of ascariasis, enterobiasis and giardiasis in the Romanian largest county during a 14-year period. We have performed a retrospective collection and analysis of the available information provided by the general practitioners to the Statistics Department database of the Timis County Public Health Authority. The mean annual incidence of the studied parasitic diseases during 1993-2006 was the following: 194 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (range: 90-304) for ascariasis, 777 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (range: 417-1241) for enterobiasis and 1076 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (range: 93-1770) for giardiasis. Noteworthy is that Romania reported 90.8% of the total cases of giardiasis at the European Union's level during 2006-2008. The general trend of the incidences throughout the studied period was constant for ascariasis (R(2)=0.192, p=0.1), showed no statistically significant variation (R(2)=0.025, p=0.6) for enterobiasis and was upward for giardiasis (R(2)=0.6, p=0.001). Intestinal parasitoses represent an important public health concern in Romania due to the extremely high incidence rates reported. Special attention should be paid to the young population (0-14 years), where the negative disease consequences on children's health and their educational process may be traced for a long-term. Therefore, efficient educational programs and campaigns should be timely implemented.
authors.affiliation: Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania. raul.neghina@gmail.com
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neghina
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dumitrascu
authors.forename: Adriana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Neghina
authors.forename: Daliborca Cristina
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Vlad
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrica
authors.forename: Dinu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vermesan
authors.forename: Livius
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tirnea
authors.forename: Octavian
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mazilu
authors.forename: Tudor Rares
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Olariu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017229:Enterobiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult