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Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
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Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

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RURAL LEFT-BEHIND CHILDREN ARE SERIOUSLY AFFLICTED WITH INTESTINAL HELMINTH INFECTIONS IN SOUTHERN SICHUAH, CHINA

Yue Guo1,2, Ming-Ke Lu3, Hai-Yan Dong1

  • 1School of Medicine, Huzhou University, 759 Er Huan Rd., Huzhou, Zhejiang, Peoples Republic of China.

The Journal of Parasitology
|January 31, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Rural left-behind children (LBC) in China face significantly higher rates of intestinal helminth infections compared to their non-left-behind peers. This study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address parasitic infections in LBC.

Area of Science:

  • * Public Health
  • * Parasitology
  • * Pediatrics

Background:

  • * Intestinal helminth infections are a significant health concern for rural children in China.
  • * A clear understanding of the disparity in infection prevalence between rural left-behind children (LBC) and rural non-left-behind children (NLBC) is lacking.
  • * Southern Sichuan province was selected as the study area due to its high prevalence of helminth infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To investigate and compare the prevalence and severity of intestinal helminth infections between LBC and NLBC in rural China.
  • * To identify specific helminth species affecting children in the study region.
  • * To provide data for public health strategies targeting parasitic infections in vulnerable child populations.

Main Methods:

  • * A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulin and Xuyong counties, southern Sichuan, in 2019.
  • * The Kato Katz thick smear method was employed for detecting helminth eggs.
  • * For children aged 3-6 years, the adhesive tape perianal swab method was used to detect Enterobius vermicularis and tapeworm eggs. Statistical analysis utilized the chi-square test.

Main Results:

  • * A total of 1,608 children (911 LBC, 697 NLBC) were analyzed, with six species of intestinal helminths detected.
  • * The infection rate was significantly higher in LBC (39.3%) compared to NLBC (18.7%) (P < 0.05).
  • * LBC also exhibited a statistically significant higher rate of double worm infections, indicating greater infection severity.

Conclusions:

  • * Rural left-behind children in southern Sichuan are at a substantially higher risk of intestinal helminth infection.
  • * The severity of parasitic infections is considerably worse among LBC.
  • * Increased public health attention and targeted interventions are crucial for addressing the parasitic infections prevalent in LBC.

Keywords:
ChinaIntestinal helminth infectionsNon-left-behind childrenRural left-behind children

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