Intestinal parasite infections in immigrant children in the city of Rome, related risk factors and possible impact on nutritional status

Abstract

BackgroundParasitic diseases can represent a social and economic problem among disadvantaged people - even in developed countries. Due to the limited data available concerning Europe, the aims of the present study were to evaluate the presence of parasites in immigrant children and the risk factors favouring the spread of parasites. Subsequently, the possible correlation between nutritional status and parasitic infections was also investigated.FindingsA convenience sample of two hundred and forty seven immigrant children (aged 0–15) attending the Poliambulatorio della Medicina Solidale in Rome was examined. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, and parasitological and anthropometric tests were applied. Chi-squared test and binary logistic multiple-regression models were used for statistical analysis.Thirty-seven children (15%) tested positive to parasites of the following species: Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba coli, Giardia duodenalis, Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides and Strongyloides stercoralis. A monospecific infection was detected in 30 (81%) out of 37 parasitized children, while the others (19%) presented a polyparasitism. The major risk factors were housing, i.e. living in shacks, and cohabitation with other families (p<0.01). Children classified in the lower height Z-scores had a significantly greater prevalence of parasites (30.9%) than the others (p<0.01).ConclusionsThis study shows that parasite infection in children is still quite common, even in a developed country and that children’s growth and parasitism may be related. Extensive improvements in the living, social and economic conditions of immigrants are urgently needed in order to overcome these problems.

Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan Immigrants to Spain

“…10,11,18,32 Similar to previous studies, no relationship was found between having symptoms and the presence of imported infectious diseases, suggesting that screening protocols should be carried out regardless of clinical status. 9,33 The prevalence of pathogenic infectious disease was high (73%).…”

“…More than one-quarter of our study population presented coinfection by different imported infectious diseases, being similar to previous studies reporting from 9% to 35% of coinfection. 7,10,32 The presence of coinfection should always be considered since a delay in treatment may, in some cases, lead to serious consequences in both the short term (malaria) and the long term (HIV, TB, HBsAg, schistosomiasis, and strongyloidiasis) with respect to the health of the subject involved as well as the public health system. Furthermore, coinfection may alter the normal course of some infections, such as schistosomiasis and viral hepatitis, HIV and viral hepatitis, or HIV and strongyloidiasis.…”

Nutritional status and its association with physical fitness, physical activity and parasitological indicators in youths from rural mozambique

“…Nevertheless, with regard to asymptomatic parasitemia, little information exists that would establish a special relationship with nutrition and motor performance, especially in African children living in rural settings. Moreover, currently available information is inconsistent, and the relationship between parasitemia, nutrition, and motor performance remains unclear (Filho et al, ; Manganelli et al, ; Staat et al, ).…”

Enterobius Vermicularis ve Taenia Saginata ile Enfekte Çocuklar Arasındaki Farklar

“…However, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of body weight, and pruritis ani have also been reported during taeniasis. 16,24,25 [26][27][28][29] One important fi nding emerging from our comparison of children with E. vermicularis and T. saginata was the increase in appetite, which was more prevalent in the T. saginata group.…”