Prevalence and distribution of soil-transmitted helminthiases among Orang Asli children living in peripheral Selangor, Malaysia.

Full Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminthiases are a public health problem in rural communities. A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and distribution of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm was conducted in 281 Orang Asli children (aborigines) aged between 2 and 15 years, from 8 Orang Asli villages in Selangor, Malaysia. All the children were infected with soil-transmitted helminthes, with 26.3% of the children infected either with A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura or hookworm and 72.6% having mixed infection. The overall prevalences of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm were 61.9, 98.2 and 37.0%, respectively. Approximately 19.0, 26.0 and 3.0% of the children had severe infection of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, respectively. The prevalences and mean egg per gram (epg) counts for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were not significantly dependent on age, therefore age-dependent convexity was not seen in this study. However, the results of this study reveal an age-dependent prevalence and mean epg count in children with hookworm infection. We conclude that ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection are still prevalent and therefore a public health concern in Orang Asli communities. Severe ascariasis and trichuriasis may lead to other health and medical problems.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Al-Mekhlafi, M S Hesham (MS); Azlin, M' (M); Nor Aini, U (U); Shaikh, A (A); Sa'iah, A (A); Fatmah, M S (MS); Ismail, M G (MG); Firdaus, M S Ahmad (MS); Aisah, M Y (MY); Rozlida, A R (AR); Norhayati, M (M);

Affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health (Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health), published in Thailand. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jan; vol 37 (issue 1) : pp 40-7

Dates: Created 2006/06/14; Completed 2006/08/03; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16771211, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Age Factors
Ascariasis - epidemiology; transmission
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hookworm Infections - epidemiology; transmission

Hookworm Infections - epidemiology; transmission
Humans
Malaysia - epidemiology
Male
Prevalence
Rural Population
Soil - parasitology
Trichuriasis - epidemiology; transmission

Associated Chemicals: Soil (0)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.