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Ascariasis and malnutrition. A study in urban Ethiopian children.
Abstract
Waterborne diseases are a major public health problem in many countries of the world including Ethiopia.
Waterborne diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminthes, and fungi. Currently, about 1.1 billion
people in the world drink unsafe water, which is responsible for millions of cases of waterborne diseases. Ascariasis
is among the several parasites which is widely prevalent helminthic disease of public health significance. It is
commonly found in warm tropical and sub-tropical climates in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. It flourishes
in areas with poor sanitation and crop irrigation by improperly treated wastewater. Severe ascariasis infections
cause approximately, 60,000 deaths annually, mainly in children. It is transmitted through accidental ingestion of
Ascaris eggs from contaminated water, food or soil. Among the Ascaris species, Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris
suum are the parasitic nematode infections of humans and pigs with serious outcomes, respectively. Ascariasis is
found in association with low personal hygiene, poor sanitation, and in places where human faeces are used as
fertilizer. Clinical spectrum of disease varies from asymptomatic to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pneumonia,
and intestinal obstruction. Laboratory help is imperative to assist the clinical diagnosis. Treatment of adult worms can
be done with albendazole, mebendazole, and pyrantel pamote. Public health department should improve the safety
of the drinking water. Health education to the community, mainly the school children about the personal hygiene and
environmental sanitation will be important in preventing the infection. Ascariasis caused by A. lumbricoides is found
among children and adults in Ethiopia. Considering the importance of ascariasis from public health and economic
perspective, further research on the development of safe, potent and cheap vaccine is emphasized. Moreover,
comprehensive studies on zoonotic importance of A. suum should be planned particularly, in pig rearing countries.
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Type
Journal Article