A study on protozoan cysts, helminth eggs and larvae in pacifiers

Abstract

ResumoObjetivo: Devido à alta prevalência das enteroparasitoses entre crianças no Brasil e do possível envolvimento de objetos na transmissão dessas doenças, foi desenvolvido um estudo para pesquisar a presença de cistos de protozoários, larvas e ovos de helmintos em chupetas.Métodos: No período de março a dezembro de 1993, foram examinadas 86 chupetas de crianças na faixa etária de zero a sete anos, residentes no bairro Vila Promessa, município de Alfenas, MG. A pesquisa de cistos, larvas e ovos foi realizada através do exame microscópico do sedimento obtido da centrifugação do líqui-do resultante da lavagem das chupetas. Os resultados obtidos foram avaliados empregando-se a análise percentual. Paralelamente aos exames, foram realizadas entrevistas com os responsáveis pela criança, cuja chupeta foi examinada, visando à detecção de conhecimentos sobre a transmissão das parasitoses intestinais e os cuidados com as chupetas.Resultados: Dentre as 86 chupetas examinadas, 10 estavam contaminadas (11,63%) e nelas foram encontrados ovos de Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichuris trichiura, Taenia sp e larvas de Ancylostomatidae.Conclusão: Foi observado que as chupetas podem ser um importante veículo na transmissão dos parasitas intestinais, na faixa etária em estudo, o que deixa clara a necessidade de uma política sanitária persistente no combate às parasitoses intestinais.J. pediatr. (Rio J.). 1997; 73(1):21-25: cuidados da criança, chupeta, enteropatia parasitária. AbstractObjective: Due to the high prevalence of enteroparasitoses among Brazilian children and the possible involvement of objects in carrying these diseases, a study was conducted to investigate the presence of protozoan cysts, larvae and helminth eggs in pacifiers.Methods: Over the period of March to December of 1993, 86 pacifiers of zero to seven-year-old children resident in Vila Promessa, a suburb in Alfenas, MG, were examined. The investigation of cysts, larvae and eggs was made by the microscopic exam of the sediment obtained from centrifuging the liquid resulting from washing the pacifiers. The results were evaluated by employing the percentile analysis. Along with the examination of the pacifiers, an interview was carried out with the people responsible for the children whose pacifiers were examined, aiming at detecting how much was known about the transmission of intestinal parasitoses and the proper hygiene of pacifiers.Results: Among the 86 pacifiers examined, 10 were found to be contaminated (11.63%) and presenting eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichuris trichiura, Taenia sp and Ancylostomatidae larvae.Conclusion: Pacifiers were found to be an important means of transmitting intestinal parasites in the age range studied what makes it a need to set a proper and persistent sanitary policy in fighting intestinal parasitoses.

Control of bacterial biofilms formed on pacifiers by antimicrobial solutions in spray

“…However, silicone pacifiers still have potential for microorganism adhesion and can be a considerable source of infection, as endorsed by previous studies. The present study showed that a wide variety of reference strains ( S. mutans, S. pyogenes, E. coli, C. albicans and S. aureus ) is able to grow and to form biofilms in this surface.…”

“…Silicone is less prone to microbial Antimicrobial solutions in spray for biofilm pacifiers 583 colonization and has lower allergenic potential in comparison to latex pacifiers [4][5][6][7] . However, silicone pacifiers still have potential for microorganism adhesion and can be a considerable source of infection, as endorsed by previous studies 6,7,14,16 . The present study showed that a wide variety of reference strains (S. mutans, S. pyogenes, E. coli, C. albicans and S. aureus) is able to grow and to form biofilms in this surface.…”

“…Previous studies showed that the use of pacifiers might increase the susceptibility to some diseases, such as otitis media, dental caries, fungal infections and intestinal parasitosis.…”

The health effects of wastewater on the prevalence of ascariasis among the children of the discharge zone of El Jadida, Morocco

“…Children between the ages of seven and ten demonstrated the greatest vulnerability to ascariasis infection. Results from this study corroborate those of other studies such as Pedersso and Siqueira (1997) in Brazil; Blumenthal et al (2001) in Mexico and Verle et al (2003) in Northern Vietnam.…”

Pacifiers: A microbial reservoir

“…A few authors have searched for specific microbial species on pacifiers. Pedroso and Siqueira (1997) demonstrated that pacifiers were an important source of infection by intestinal parasites, such as protozoan cysts and helminth eggs or larvae. Mattos-Graner et al (2001) found a relationship between the use of a pacifier and the proliferation of yeast in the oral cavity.…”