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[Development of the prevalence rate of four intestinal parasites in children]
C Moulinier1, J Battin, G Giap
1Laboratoire de parasitologie, Hôpital des Enfants, Bordeaux, France.
Insights
Over the past 20 years, parasitic infections like Giardia and Ascaris have significantly decreased in French children. Improved public hygiene, living standards, and changes in childhood behavior are likely causes for this decline in intestinal parasites.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Coprological techniques have been consistently applied in Bordeaux's Children's Hospital parasitology labs for two decades.
- A notable decline in common intestinal parasite prevalence, including Giardia, Entamoeba coli, Ascaris, and Trichocephale, has been documented.
- Similar trends of reduced parasite infection rates have been observed in other French parasitology laboratories.
Purpose:
- To analyze trends in intestinal parasite prevalence over the last two decades.
- To correlate observed changes in parasite infection rates with public health and socioeconomic factors.
Summary:
- A significant decrease in the prevalence of common intestinal parasites (Giardia, Entamoeba coli, Ascaris, Trichocephale) has been observed in children over a 20-year period.
- This reduction is associated with improvements in public hygiene and family living standards.
- Changes in children's behavior in various environments (school, outdoors, home) are also considered contributing factors to the declining parasite infection rates.
Impact:
- Highlights the positive impact of improved public health measures and socioeconomic development on infectious disease reduction.
- Suggests that behavioral changes in children play a role in controlling the spread of intestinal parasites.
- Provides valuable epidemiological data for public health strategies aimed at preventing parasitic infections in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
During the last 2 decades, the same coprological techniques for the detection of parasites have been applied by the same team in the parasitology laboratories of the Children's Hospital of Bordeaux. A marked decrease in the prevalence of the most frequently occurring parasites (Giardia and Entamoeba coli cysts, Ascaris and Trichocephale eggs) has been observed. Similar results have also been found in other French parasitology laboratories. This reduction in the parasite infection rate is concomitant with a sustained improvement in public hygiene and the living standards of families. It is also likely that an evolution in childhood behaviour at school, outdoors, and at home, accounts for a decrease in intestinal parasites.