Risk factors forGiardiainfection among hospitalized children in Cuba

Abstract

The risk factors associated with Giardia infection, in children hospitalized in Havana, Cuba, were recently explored. Children aged >5 years were more likely to be positive for Giardia infection than the younger children, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.41 [95% confidence interval (CI)51.36-9.69]. The risk factors found to be associated with Giardia infection in univariate analyses were rural residence (OR53.01; CI51.23-7.35), belonging to a household that did not receive water from an aqueduct (OR53.27; CI51.21-8.91), drinking unboiled water (OR53.64; CI52.14-6.26), nail biting (OR53.47; CI51.97-6.08), eating unwashed vegetables raw (OR54.84; CI52.33-10.14), and a personal (OR53.23; CI51.58-6.59) or family history (OR53.96; CI51.53-10.47) of previous parasitic infection. In multivariate analyses, however, only two (modifiable) risk factors were found to be independently and significantly associated with Giardia infection: nail biting and eating unwashed vegetables raw. It therefore seems that, at least at the individual level, giardiasis-prevention activities in Havana should be focussed on health education to improve personal hygiene and food-related practices. If appropriately managed, the surveillance of drinking water and foodstuffs, for Giardia and other parasites, might also help to reduce the hospitalization of Cuban children.

Thumb-Sucking, Nail-Biting, and Atopic Sensitization, Asthma, and Hay Fever

“…The cohort represents the full range of socioeconomic status in the South Island of New Zealand, and the study participants are mostly of New Zealand European ethnicity. Follow-up assessments were completed at ages 3,5,7,9,11,13,15,18,21,26,32, and 38 years. A full description of the study is reported elsewhere.…”

Potential impact of macroclimatic variability on the epidemiology of giardiasis in three provinces of Cuba, 2010–2012

“…Clinical giardiasis in some countries, such as Cuba, has been reported as a common reason for hospitalization in pediatric hospitals in Havana, the capital city, where [18][19][20][21], according to a study of risk factors for Giardia infection among hospitalized children, it appears that, at least at the individual level, giardiasis-prevention activities in Havana should be focused on health education to improve personal hygiene and food related practices [20].…”

Prevention of intestinal parasites in a tri‐border area of Latin America: Children perceptions and an integral health education strategy

“…The performance of children in this activity was very good; they were able to respond adequately to the situations in the panels and with a very prominent performance in relation to the control group. However, we recognized a couple of specific issues as cutting nails and walking barefoot, important for parasitism prevention (Bello et al., ; Sah et al., ), that require specific approaches. Main biases are culturally driven (Karpicke & Roediger, ; Okanda & Itakura, , ), for instance, going barefoot is associated with pleasant behaviours—to play football—and social positive inputs—mother indication to not wear shoes in some situations.…”