scholarly journals Five-Year Follow-Up on the Prevalence and Intensity of Infections of Schistosoma mansoni in a Hard-to-Reach District of Madagascar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Spencer ◽  
Cortland Linder ◽  
James M. St. J. Penney ◽  
Hannah J. Russell ◽  
Kate Hyde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Biomphalaria Pfeifferi ◽  
The Impact

Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem in Madagascar. The WHO recommends preventive chemotherapy by mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel as the primary approach to control Schistosoma mansoni–related morbidity in endemic populations, alongside complementary interventions such as health education. The impact of annual MDA and health education programs was assessed in the hard-to-reach Marolambo district of eastern Madagascar, an area endemic for S. mansoni. Repeated cross-sectional studies undertaken 2015–2019 examined between 300 and 381 school-aged children (aged 5–14 years) annually. The prevalence and infection intensity of S. mansoni were assessed by urine-circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) dipsticks and coproscopy using Kato–Katz (KK) methodologies. After four rounds of annual MDA, a reduction in S. mansoni prevalence was seen in CCA (93.9% in year 1–87.7% in year 5; P = 0.007) and KK (73.9% in year 1–59.4% in year 5; P < 0.0001). The prevalence of heavy-intensity infections roughly halved from 23.7% to 10.1% (P < 0.0001), and the mean intensity of infection fell by 55.0% (480.2–216.3 eggs per gram of feces). A malacological survey found Biomphalaria pfeifferi snail intermediate hosts in multiple water contact sites including rice paddies, streams, and Nosivolo River. Despite reductions in infection prevalence and intensity, schistosomiasis still poses a significant public health challenge in Marolambo district. Twice yearly MDA cycles and/or community-wide MDA are suggested to better reduce infections. Expanding health education; improving standards of water, sanitation, and hygiene; and attention on snail-related control will also be important, especially in rice paddy irrigated areas.

scholarly journals Progress in Research on SARS-CoV-2 Infection Causing Neurological Diseases and Its Infection Mechanism

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lintao Wang ◽  
Zhiguang Ren ◽  
Li Ma ◽  
Yanjie Han ◽  
Wenqiang Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Great Harm

COVID-19 has spread rapidly worldwide since its outbreak and has now become a major public health problem. More and more evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 may not only affect the respiratory system but also cause great harm to the central nervous system. Therefore, it is extremely important to explore in-depth the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the nervous system. In this paper, the possible mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 invading the central nervous system during COVID-19, and the neurological complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection were reviewed.

scholarly journals Prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniInfection in Four Health Areas of Kisantu Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Khonde Kumbu ◽  
K. Mbanzulu Makola ◽  
Lu Bin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Health Zone

Background. Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in Democratic Republic of the Congo but estimates of its prevalence vary widely. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniinfection and associated risk factors among children in 4 health areas of Kisantu health zone.Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 4 health areas of Kisantu health zone. 388 children randomly selected were screened forS. mansoniusing Kato Katz technique and the sociodemographic data was collected. Data were entered and encoded using software EpiData version 3.1. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 software.Results. The prevalence ofS. mansoniwas 26.5% (103); almost two-thirds (63) (61.2%) had light infection intensity. A significant association was found betweenS. mansoniinfection and age (p=0.005), educational level (p=0.001), and practices of swimming/bathing (p<0.001) and using water from river/lake/stream for domestic use (p<0.001). Kipasa health area had high prevalence of schistosomiasis (64.6%) (64/99; 95% CI 54.4–74.0) compared to other health areas.Conclusion.Schistosoma mansoniinfection still remains a public health problem in these areas. There is a need to promote health education and promote behavioral changes in children towards schistosomiasis.

scholarly journals The Impact of Edentulism on Oral and General Health

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Emami ◽  
Raphael Freitas de Souza ◽  
Marla Kabawat ◽  
Jocelyne S. Feine
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
General Health ◽  
Chronic Condition ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Preventive Dentistry ◽  
Disease Indicators ◽  
The Impact

An adequate dentition is of importance for well-being and life quality. Despite advances in preventive dentistry, edentulism is still a major public health problem worldwide. In this narrative review, we provide a perspective on the pathways that link oral to general health. A better understanding of disease indicators is necessary for establishing a solid strategy through an organized oral health care system to prevent and treat this morbid chronic condition.

scholarly journals To Fall or Not to Fall – Falls and Perceptions of Control and Meaning of the Home

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 444-444
Author(s):  
Susanne Iwarsson ◽  
Steven Schmidt ◽  
Björn Slaug
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Psychological Instruments ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Falls are a major public health problem among older people. Even if the outcome of a fall is not fatal, it may be a traumatic experience with both physical and psychological consequences. However, there is a lack of studies examining how falls in the home may impact the perception of the home. To compare perceptions of the home between those who had fallen and those who had not, we utilized data from the Swedish SNAC-GÅS study (N=371; mean age=68; 43% men). Perceptions of control and meaning of the home were captured by established psychological instruments. Excluding falls in other environments than the home (n=99), those who fell in the home the previous year (n=34) scored notably higher on housing control by “powerful others” (p=0.053) and notably lower on perceived “behavioral home bonding” (p=0.056) compared to non-fallers (n=238). These results warrant further research into the impact of falls on perceived housing.

scholarly journals Diagnostic sensitivity of direct wet mount microscopy for soil-transmitted helminth infections in Jimma Town, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (06.1) ◽  
pp. 66S-71S
Author(s):  
Daniel Dana ◽  
Johnny Vlaminck ◽  
Zeleke Mekonnen ◽  
Mio Ayana ◽  
Florian Vogt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Diagnostic Sensitivity ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Wet Mount ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Jimma Town

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) remains a major public health problem in school children in Ethiopia. Although direct wet mount microscopy (DWMM) is the means to diagnose parasitic diseases in health care facilities in Ethiopia, it remains unclear what its diagnostic performance is for STH. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed in Jimma Town (Ethiopia) and included 600 children from 10 primary schools. The diagnostic sensitivity of DWMM was compared to a composite reference standard (CRS) consisting of Kato-Katz, McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC. We also explored the impact of intensity of infection (the highest faecal egg counts (FECs; expressed as eggs per gram of stool (EPG)) across the CRS) on the diagnostic sensitivity of DWMM. Results: Based on the CRS, there were 210 Ascaris (35.0%), 312 Trichuris (52.0%) and 102 hookworm cases (17.0%). The median intensity of infections equalled 2,057 EPG for Ascaris, 200 EPG for Trichuris and 110 EPG for hookworms. The sensitivity of DWMM was 73.8% for Ascaris, but was around 17% for both Trichuris and hookworms. The sensitivity significantly increased with intensity of STH. For Ascaris, the odds for detecting an infection intensity of 1,000 EPG was 6.2 times higher than detecting an infection of 100 EPG. For Trichuris and hookworms, these odds ratios were 7.1 and 14. Conclusions: The diagnostic sensitivity of DWMM is low for STH, but it is able to detect those subjects that are in the highest need of treatment, and hence contributes to the global goal to eliminate STH as a public health problem.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of Drug Resistance on the Transmission Dynamics of Typhoid Fever

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mushayabasa ◽  
C. P. Bhunu ◽  
E. T. Ngarakana-Gwasira
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Typhoid Fever ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Reproductive Number ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
The Impact

Typhoid fever continues to be a major public health problem in the developing world. Antibiotic therapy has been the main stay of treating typhoid fever for decades. The emergence of drug-resistant typhoid strain in the last two decades has been a major problem in tackling this scourge. A mathematical model for investigating the impact of drug resistance on the transmission dynamics of typhoid fever is developed. The reproductive number for the model has been computed. Numerical results in this study suggest that when a typhoid outbreak occurs with more drug-sensitive cases than drug-resistant cases, then it may take 10–15 months for symptomatic drug-resistant cases to outnumber all typhoid cases, and it may take an average of 15–20 months for nonsymptomatic drug-resistant cases to outnumber all drug-sensitive cases.

scholarly journals Characterization ofMycobacterium bovisfrom Humans and Cattle in Namwala District, Zambia

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sydney Malama ◽  
Tone Bjordal Johansen ◽  
John Bwalya Muma ◽  
Musso Munyeme ◽  
Grace Mbulo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Infected Cattle ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in Zambia. While human to human transmission ofMycobacterium tuberculosisis of major importance in driving the tuberculosis epidemic, the impact ofMycobacterium bovistransmission from infected cattle is largely unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed at molecular characterization ofM. bovisin humans and cattle. A total of 100 human sputum samples and 67 bovine tissues were collected and analyzed for the presence of mycobacteria. Of 65 human samples that harbored acid fast bacteria (AFB), 55 isolates were obtained of which 34 were identified asM. tuberculosisand 2 asM. bovis. AFB-positive bovine samples (n=67) yielded 47 mycobacterial isolates among which 25 were identified asM. bovisand noM. tuberculosiswas found. Among theM. bovisisolates, spoligotyping revealed a high homogeneity in genotypes circulating in Namwala district. Human and cattle isolates shared identical MIRU-VNTR genotypes, suggesting that transmission between the two hosts may occur. Therefore, this study has documented zoonotic TB in human patients in Namwala district of Zambia. However, further molecular epidemiological studies in the study area are recommended.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection among children in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habtye Bisetegn ◽  
Tegegne Eshetu ◽  
Yonas Erkihun
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Medical Laboratory ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Pooled Prevalence ◽  
Google Search

Abstract Background Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by mainly Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium. The disease is very common in Africa including Ethiopia. Schistosoma mansoni is a major public health problem in Ethiopia especially among children. This review is aimed to indicate the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni among children at national and regional level. Methods and material: The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Electronic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE and Google search were carried out using key terms. Articles published from the proceeding of professional associations such as Ethiopian medical laboratory association, Ethiopian public health association and annual national research conferences were searched to find eligible studies. Data was extracted independently by two investigators, and pooled using a random effects model. Data was extracted using Microsoft excel and final analyzed using STATA version 12. Quality of included studies was assessed using JBI quality assessment criteria. Result Over all 41 studies involving 15968 children were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 37.75% (95%CI:29.97–45.53). High heterogeneity was observed with I2 of 99.3%, p = 0.000. According to subgroup analysis, the pooled prevalence was high in SNNPR (46.27%: 95%CI: 21.77–70.77) followed by Amhara region (41.9%: 95%CI: 28.45–54.54) Tigray region (38.14%: 95%CI:24.22–52.05) and Oromia region (26.54%: 95%CI: 16.89–36.20). Year from 2011 to 2015 contribute for the highest prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni among children (44.46% (95%:30.88–58.03). Conclusion This study revealed 37.75% Schistosoma mansoni infection among children. High prevalence of schistosomes among children highlights the importance of improving and implementing appropriate control strategies such as mass drug administration in Ethiopia.

scholarly journals Risk of Human Exposure to the Intestinal Schistosome, Schistosoma mansoni, across Seasons along the Senegal River

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Rohr JR
Keyword(s):  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Infected Snail ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
The Impact

Background: Schistosomiasis is an emerging disease associated with changes to the environment that have increased human contact rates with disease-causing parasites, flatworms that are released from freshwater snails. For example, schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Northern Senegal, where prevalence in schoolchildren often reaches 90%. Aim: This study focuses on the impact of seasonality on the risk of human exposure (RHE) to Schistosoma mansoni, defined as the total number of cercariae (the free-living life stage that infects humans) shed from all Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails collected at a site using standardized methods. We focus on RHE because it is rarely quantified and a recent study demonstrated that snails stop shedding cercariae when snail densities increase and thus per capita snail resources become limited [2], suggesting that densities of snails might not be directly proportional to RHE to schistosomes. Method: We sampled four water access points in three villages every other week during the early (Dry1) and later dry seasons (Dry2) and the rainy season, quantifying the abundance of infected and non-infected snail intermediate hosts, cercariae released per infected snail, and water chemistry. We used simple and multiple linear regressions to assess how seasonality and environmental parameters affect non-infected and infected snail abundance and RHE. Results: Although RHE was found across all seasons, the abundance of infected and non-infected snail intermediate hosts and cercariae, as well as prevalence (23.71%), were all highest in the rainy season. In the rainy season, RHE was positively associated with the density of snail hosts and their periphyton food resource. Conclusion: Although previous studies have examined the influence of seasonality on snail densities, few studies have explored the effects of seasonality on cercarial densities, which is the primary source of infection to humans. Our study demonstrates that cercarial densities are greater in the rainy season than in the early or late dry seasons. Given that cercarial densities directly pose risk of infection to humans, unlike non-infected or infected snails, these finding should help to inform decision making and schistosomiasis control efforts in West Africa.

Reasons for Non-Compliance to Inhaled Medications among Adult Asthma Patients Attending Referral Chest Hospital in North India

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Yousoof Dar ◽  
Naveed Nazir Shah
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Asthma Patient ◽  
North India ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Asthma Patients ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Introduction: Asthma is a major public health problem affecting a large number of individuals of all ages, characterized bychronic airway inflammation and inhaled medications are main stay of treatment but compliance to these medications is poor.Aim: This study was conducted to look for common reasons for non-compliance to inhaled medications (MDI and DPI) in asthmapatients attending out-patient department of a referral chest hospital. Material and methods: The study was conducted on 150diagnosed asthma patients on follow based on an open labeled questionnaire in a hospital from North India. Results: Overallcompliance of the patients to inhaled medications (MDI and DPI) was only 34.6% (52 /150 patients) and 65.4 % (98 out of 150) were found to be noncompliant. Among reason for non-compliance, belief that medications were not needed during symptom freeperiod was found in 43.8% (43/98), followed by feeling that they may become dependent/ develop addiction if used for long timein  32.6% (32/98) and social embarrassment in using inhalers found in  14.2%(14/98). All other reasons accounted for onlyaround 9% of non-compliance. Conclusion: The data indicates that despite strict instructions for adherence to medicationcompliance rate was poor, although majority of the patients believed that compliance was extremely important. This studysuggests that besides continued health education new health care initiatives are needed to be designed to improve the complianceof asthma patient for inhaled medications.

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