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[Clinical-epidemiological study of toxocariasis in a pediatric population]
Silvana D P Figueiredo1, José A A C Taddei, Joaquim J C Menezes
1Universidade de Santo Amaro (UNISA), São Paulo, SP. kwcm@ig.com.br
Insights
Toxocariasis seroprevalence was high in children, linked to owning puppies and soil contact. This parasitic infection is associated with asthma, eosinophilia, and stunted growth in children.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Pediatric Immunology
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Toxocariasis, a parasitic infection caused by Toxocara canis (T. canis), presents diverse clinical manifestations.
- The relationship between toxocariasis and asthma warrants further investigation in pediatric populations.
- Understanding risk factors for T. canis infection is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose:
- To determine the seroprevalence of T. canis infection in children attending a public pediatric service.
- To investigate the association between T. canis seropositivity and various laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical factors.
- To explore the link between T. canis infection and asthma in a pediatric cohort.
Summary:
- A cross-sectional study of 208 children (1-14 years) found a 54.8% seroprevalence of T. canis infection.
- Seropositivity was significantly associated with owning puppies, soil contact, hepatomegaly, asthma, eosinophilia, elevated IgE, and stunted growth.
- No significant differences in seroprevalence were observed based on age or sex.
Impact:
- Highlights the high prevalence of T. canis infection in the studied pediatric population.
- Identifies key risk factors (puppies, soil contact) and associated clinical conditions (asthma, eosinophilia, hepatomegaly).
- Emphasizes the need to consider T. canis infection in at-risk children presenting with specific clinical and laboratory findings.
Objective:
The variety of toxocariasis clinic manifestations and its relationship with asthma motivated this study. The aim was to study T.canis seropositivity at a public pediatric service and its association with laboratory, epidemiological and clinical factors.
Methods:
This study was cross-sectional and controlled. Two hundred and eight children, from 1 to 14 years old and treated at the University of Santo Amaro Pediatric Department s Immunology and Pneumology clinic between January 2000 and January 2001, underwent serology testing. Antibodies were detected by ELISA testing for the larval excretory-secretory antigen of T. canis. We used the chi-square test for T.canis seropositivity (titers > or = 1:320) associations with: puppies at home, contact with soil, geophagia, onicophagia, mother's educational level, asthma, chronic cough, repetitive pneumonia, skin manifestations, rhinitis, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, abdominal pain, anemia, eosinophilia, immunoglobulins, parasitosis and stunted growth. The Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis method was used for mean comparisons between seropositive and seronegative groups. Significance was set at p < or = 0.05.
Results:
Seroprevalence was 54.8%, with a mean age of 6.5 years while for seronegative children the mean age was 5.8 years, showing no significant difference. There was also no difference between sexes. Seropositivity was significantly associated with puppies at home, contact with soil, hepatomegaly, asthma, eosinophilia, increased serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels and stunted growth.
Conclusion:
Seroprevalence was elevated in this study . T.canis infection must be considered in at-risk children, such as those with puppies at home, who have had contact with soil, who have hepatomegaly and/or asthma with eosinophilia and increased serum IgE.
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