An eleven-year retrospective hospital-based study of epidemiological data regarding human strongyloidiasis in northeast Thailand

Abstract

BackgroundHuman strongyloidiasis is a chronic and persistent gastrointestinal disease caused by infection with soil-transmitted helminths of the genus Strongyloides. The aim of this research was to obtain diagnostic prevalence regarding strongyloidiasis in northeast Thailand through a hospital-based study.MethodsPatients’ demographic data and the results of stool examinations conducted using the formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique were collected from the parasitology laboratory records at Srinagarind Hospital in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The relevant information from years 2004 to 2014 was collected and descriptively analyzed.ResultsOf a total of 22,338 patients, 3889 (17.4%) had stool samples that tested positive for Strongyloides larvae. The highest prevalence was 22.8% (95% CI = 19.6–26.2%) in the year 2004. This percentage progressively decreased, reaching 11.2% (95% CI = 10.2–12.4%) in 2013 and remaining stable at 12.9% (95% CI = 11.8–14.1%) in 2014. Males (2741 cases) had double the positivity rate of females (1148 cases). The prevalence of infection was highest (25.9%; 95% CI = 24.5–27.3%) among patients that were 51–60 years of age.ConclusionsAreas endemic for strongyloidiasis should be emphasized under the national helminth control program and health education campaigns. Nationwide assessments should also be performed regarding Strongyloides infection, including risk factors, treatment, and prevention. The diagnostic laboratory data presented here identify the geographical focus of disease to be the northeastern region of the country. Further targeted surveillance using more sensitive methods will almost certainly reveal a higher individual disease burden than found in this report.

Impact of the health education and preventive equipment package (HEPEP) on prevention of Strongyloides stercoralis infection among rural communities in Northeast Thailand: a cluster randomized controlled trial

“…Participants aged 40–59 years had a 19.30% prevalence of S. stercoralis infection, which was higher than in other age groups. Older adults have been shown to be at higher risk for S. stercoralis infection due to their having been exposed to contaminated soil over a longer period of time [ 2 , 28 ].…”

“…Human strongyloidiasis, which is caused by infection with a parasitic nematode of the genus Strongyloides , is an important public health problem, especially in tropical and sub-tropical countries [ 1 , 2 ]. Currently, more than 100 million people are infected with Strongyloides stercoralis worldwide [ 3 – 5 ].…”

“…This leads to a high risk of human infection during its parasitic phrase. In the northeastern region, the prevalence of S. stercoralis infection has been shown to range from 2.5 to 33.3% based on community surveys [ 2 , 10 – 15 ]. For example, an eleven-year retrospective hospital-based study showed that the prevalence of infection ranged from 11.0 to 24.3% in the northeast region [ 2 ].…”

“…In the northeastern region, the prevalence of S. stercoralis infection has been shown to range from 2.5 to 33.3% based on community surveys [ 2 , 10 – 15 ]. For example, an eleven-year retrospective hospital-based study showed that the prevalence of infection ranged from 11.0 to 24.3% in the northeast region [ 2 ]. Accordingly, strongyloidiasis is considered to be a helminthiasis of public health importance in Thailand requiring the development and implementation of an integrated approach to prevention and control that includes screening, mass treatment, and health education [ 2 ].…”

“…For example, an eleven-year retrospective hospital-based study showed that the prevalence of infection ranged from 11.0 to 24.3% in the northeast region [ 2 ]. Accordingly, strongyloidiasis is considered to be a helminthiasis of public health importance in Thailand requiring the development and implementation of an integrated approach to prevention and control that includes screening, mass treatment, and health education [ 2 ]. It has been recommended that these strategies should incorporate multiple interventions to maximize the sustainability of control programs [ 16 ].…”