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[Giardiasis in nurseries supported by the São Paulo Municipal Prefecture, 1982/1983]
D M Torres1, P P Chieffi, W A Costa
1Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Seção de Enteroparasitoses, São Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
Giardia lamblia infection affected 32.80% of young children in São Paulo day nurseries. Person-to-person transmission was the primary route, with no significant role for food handlers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Giardiasis is a significant enteric infection, particularly in young children.
- Understanding transmission dynamics in childcare settings is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and transmission patterns of Giardia lamblia in São Paulo day nurseries.
- To investigate the influence of age, sex, season, and food handlers on giardiasis incidence.
Main Methods:
- Parasitological analysis of 3,076 children under 7 and 50 food handlers in São Paulo day nurseries (1982-1983).
- Analysis of prevalence data by sex, age group, and seasonal variations.
- Statistical evaluation of infection rates and potential transmission routes.
Main Results:
- Giardia lamblia infection prevalence was 32.80% in children and 4.0% in food handlers.
- Highest prevalence occurred in children aged 1-4 years.
- Transmission was predominantly person-to-person; food handlers played a minimal role. Seasonal peaks observed in autumn, spring, and summer.
- No significant association found between sex and prevalence, or regional distribution.
Conclusions:
- Day nurseries are high-risk environments for Giardia lamblia transmission among young children.
- Person-to-person contact is the primary mode of spread in this setting.
- Public health strategies should focus on hygiene and infection control measures within childcare facilities.
Abstract:
Parasitological analysis was carried out during 1982 and 1983 in 3,076 children aged under 7 years, who were enrolled in 52 day nurseries supported by Municipal Prefecture of São Paulo and 50 food handlers (cooking employees) working at 18 day nurseries. The prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection was studied according to sex, age group and seasonal variations, and attained 32.80% among children and 4.0% among adult population. The occurrence of giardiasis was most frequent in age group corresponding to 1-4 years old. The study of seasonal variations showed that, in 1982, the prevalence of G. lamblia was high in the autumn and in the spring and, in 1983, giardiasis was more prevalent in the autumn and in the summer. Statistical analysis indicated non association between sex and prevalence for Giardia infection, and there was also no significative difference on the distribution of G. lamblia prevalence in the four regions analysed in the present study (p > 0.05). The most probable mode of acquisition of Giardia infection, in the nurseries analysed in the present study was person-to-person, as factors, like environmental contamination and others, associated with the spreading of giardiasis through water, reported in other countries, are unlike from those verified in our Municipality. On the other hand, there is evidence of no significant role of food handlers in Giardia transmission, because of the rate of infection in this group was very low.