Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Giardia lamblia in Pakistani children is currently unknown. The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia lamblia in children exhibiting diarrhea. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at different district healthcare hospitals...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Paulista de Medicina
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| Series: | São Paulo Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802018000500449&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1819078133186297856 |
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| author | Aneeqa Naz Zeeshan Nawaz Muhammad Hidayat Rasool Muhammad Asif Zahoor |
| author_facet | Aneeqa Naz Zeeshan Nawaz Muhammad Hidayat Rasool Muhammad Asif Zahoor |
| author_sort | Aneeqa Naz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Giardia lamblia in Pakistani children is currently unknown. The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia lamblia in children exhibiting diarrhea. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at different district healthcare hospitals in Pakistan. METHODS: A total of 800 samples were collected from children aged 0-10 years. Information regarding personal data, demographic data and supposed risk factors was collected through a structured questionnaire. Giardia lamblia was detected through direct microscopy and antigens through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The prevalence of Giardia lamblia was 2.75% through direct microscopy and inflated to 9.5% through ELISA. The demographic factors positively associated with occurrences of giardiasis were age (P = 0.035; odds ratio, OR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.094-3.533), mother’s educational level (P = 0.031; OR = 2.67; 95% CI = 1.186-6.045) and father’s educational level (P = 0.004; OR = 3.56; 95% CI = 1.612-7.899). Similarly, among the supposed risk factors, rural residency (P = 0.032; OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.098- 2.851), absence of proper sewerage system (P = 0.000; OR = 6.60; 95% CI = 4.029-10.841) and unavailability of safe drinking water (P = 0.000; OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 2.207-7.547) were the factors strongly connected with giardiasis. Abdominal discomfort was a prominent clinical sign with 46% frequency. CONCLUSION: Various risk factors were associated with occurrences of Giardia, thus emphasizing the importance of parents’ education, safe drinking water and proper sewerage systems for Pakistani children’s health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:08:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3dd9052bc4f643a999526059cf028703 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1806-9460 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:08:15Z |
| publisher | Associação Paulista de Medicina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | São Paulo Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-3dd9052bc4f643a999526059cf0287032022-12-21T18:53:16ZengAssociação Paulista de MedicinaSão Paulo Medical Journal1806-9460136544945310.1590/1516-3180.2018.0350060918S1516-31802018000500449Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in PakistanAneeqa NazZeeshan NawazMuhammad Hidayat RasoolMuhammad Asif ZahoorABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Giardia lamblia in Pakistani children is currently unknown. The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia lamblia in children exhibiting diarrhea. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at different district healthcare hospitals in Pakistan. METHODS: A total of 800 samples were collected from children aged 0-10 years. Information regarding personal data, demographic data and supposed risk factors was collected through a structured questionnaire. Giardia lamblia was detected through direct microscopy and antigens through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The prevalence of Giardia lamblia was 2.75% through direct microscopy and inflated to 9.5% through ELISA. The demographic factors positively associated with occurrences of giardiasis were age (P = 0.035; odds ratio, OR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.094-3.533), mother’s educational level (P = 0.031; OR = 2.67; 95% CI = 1.186-6.045) and father’s educational level (P = 0.004; OR = 3.56; 95% CI = 1.612-7.899). Similarly, among the supposed risk factors, rural residency (P = 0.032; OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.098- 2.851), absence of proper sewerage system (P = 0.000; OR = 6.60; 95% CI = 4.029-10.841) and unavailability of safe drinking water (P = 0.000; OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 2.207-7.547) were the factors strongly connected with giardiasis. Abdominal discomfort was a prominent clinical sign with 46% frequency. CONCLUSION: Various risk factors were associated with occurrences of Giardia, thus emphasizing the importance of parents’ education, safe drinking water and proper sewerage systems for Pakistani children’s health.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802018000500449&lng=en&tlng=enPrevalenceGiardia lambliaRisk factorsChildPakistan |
| spellingShingle | Aneeqa Naz Zeeshan Nawaz Muhammad Hidayat Rasool Muhammad Asif Zahoor Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan São Paulo Medical Journal Prevalence Giardia lamblia Risk factors Child Pakistan |
| title | Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan |
| title_full | Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan |
| title_short | Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan |
| title_sort | cross sectional epidemiological investigations of giardia lamblia in children in pakistan |
| topic | Prevalence Giardia lamblia Risk factors Child Pakistan |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802018000500449&lng=en&tlng=en |
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