Publication: Intestinal parasite infections in symptomatic children attending hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Issued Date
2015-05-07
Resource Type
ISSN
19326203
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-84929094096
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
PLoS ONE. Vol.10, No.5 (2015)
Suggested Citation
Catrin E. Moore, Phot Nget, Mao Saroeun, Suy Kuong, Seng Chanthou, Varun Kumar, Rachel Bousfield, Johanna Nader, J. Wendi Bailey, Nicholas J. Beeching, Nicholas P. Day, Christopher M. Parry Intestinal parasite infections in symptomatic children attending hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia. PLoS ONE. Vol.10, No.5 (2015). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0123719 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/35164
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Intestinal parasite infections in symptomatic children attending hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Abstract
© 2015 Moore et al. Background: Infections with helminths and other intestinal parasites are an important but neglected problem in children in developing countries. Accurate surveys of intestinal parasites in children inform empirical treatment regimens and can assess the impact of school based drug treatment programmes. There is limited information on this topic in Cambodia. Methods: In a prospective study of intestinal parasites in symptomatic children attending Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia, April-June 2012, samples were examined by microscopy of a direct and concentrated fecal sample. Two culture methods for hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis were employed when sufficient sample was received. Demographic, clinical and epidemiological data were collected. Principal Findings: We studied 970 samples from 865 children. The median (inter-quartile range) age of the children was 5.4 (1.9-9.2) years, 54% were male. The proportion of children with abdominal pain was 66.8%, diarrhea 34.9%, anemia 12.7% and malnutrition 7.4%. 458 parasitic infections were detected in 340 (39.3%) children. The most common parasites using all methods of detection were hookworm (14.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (11.6%) and Giardia lamblia (11.2%). Giardia lamblia was most common in children aged 1-5 years, hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis were more common with increasing age. Hookworm, Strongloides stercoralis and Giardia lamblia were more common in children living outside of Siem Reap town. In a multivariate logistic regression increasing age was associated with all three infections, defecating in the forest for hookworm infection, the presence of cattle for S. stercoralis and not using soap for handwashing for G. lamblia. Conclusions/Significance: This study confirms the importance of intestinal parasitic infections in symptomatic Cambodian children and the need for adequate facilities for laboratory diagnosis together with education to improve personal hygiene and sanitation.