Estimating and mapping the incidence of giardiasis in Colombia, 2009-2013.
BACKGROUND
Giardiasis is one of the most common intestinal infections in the world. There have been no national studies on the morbidity of giardiasis in Colombia. In this study, incidence rates of giardiasis were estimated for the years 2009-2013.


METHODS
An observational, retrospective study of the giardiasis incidence in Colombia, 2009-2013, was performed using data extracted from the personal health records system (Registro Individual de Prestación de Servicios, RIPS). Official population estimates from the National Department of Statistics (DANE) were used for the estimation of crude and adjusted incidence rates (cases/100 000 population).


RESULTS
During the period studied, 15 851 cases were reported (median 3233/year; 5-year cumulated crude national rate of 33.97 cases/100 000 population). Of these, 50.3% were female; 58.4% were <10 years old and 14.8% were 10-19 years old. By region, 17.7% were from Bogotá (10.07 cases/100 000 population, 2009), 10.9% from Antioquia (9.42, 2009), 8.6% from Atlántico (15.67, 2009), and 6.5% from Risaralda (33.38, 2009). Cases were reported in all departments (even insular areas).


CONCLUSIONS
As giardiasis is neglected in many countries, surveillance is not regularly undertaken. Despite its limitations, this study is the first attempt to provide estimates of national giardiasis incidence with consistent findings regarding affected age groups and geographical distribution.
Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; Committee on Zoonoses and Hemorrhagic Fevers of the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, ACIN), Bogotá, Colombia; Working Group on Zoonoses, International Society for Chemotherapy, Aberdeen, UK; Committee on Clinical Parasitology, Asociación Panamericana de Infectología, La Habana, Cuba; Organización Latinoamericana para el Fomento de la Investigación en Salud (OLFIS), Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia. Electronic address: arodriguezm@utp.edu.co.
Alfonso J
AJ
Rodríguez-Morales
Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
Santiago
S
Granados-Álvarez
Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
Harold
H
Escudero-Quintero
Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
Felipe
F
Vera-Polania
Research Group Public Health and Infection, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
Alvaro
A
Mondragon-Cardona
Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira Cesar, CEP 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Fredi Alexander
FA
Díaz-Quijano
Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas Ecoendoscópicas (CITÉ), Caracas, Venezuela.
Leonardo
L
Sosa-Valencia
Regional Information System, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP), Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
Carlos O
CO
Lozada-Riascos
Working Group on Zoonoses, International Society for Chemotherapy, Aberdeen, UK; Committee on Clinical Parasitology, Asociación Panamericana de Infectología, La Habana, Cuba; Academic Paediatric Hospital Pedro Borrás, La Habana, Cuba.
Angel A
AA
Escobedo
College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Olivia
O
Liseth
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Ubydul
U
Haque
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
Colombia; Giardiasis; Infectious diseases epidemiology; Parasitic; Protozoan