Carolina Gasparinho1, Maria Clara Mirante, Sónia Centeno-Lima, Claudia Istrate, António Carlos Mayer, Luis Tavira, Susana Vaz Nery, Miguel Brito. 1. From the *Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Bengo, Angola; †Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Unidade de Clínica Tropical e Centro de Malária e outras Doenças Tropicais (CMDT), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical de Lisboa (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; ‡Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Unidade de Ensino e Investigação de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical de Lisboa (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; §Hospital Geral do Bengo, Caxito, Angola; ¶HealthGest, Luanda, Angola, Africa; ‖Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; and **Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diarrheal disease is among the leading causes of death in children younger than 5 years, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the most frequent etiological agents of diarrhea and its associated factors in children younger than 5 years attending the Bengo General Hospital in Angola. METHODS: From September 2012 through December 2013, stool samples were collected from 344 children presenting with diarrhea to investigate the presence of viral, bacterial and parasitic agents. Relevant sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from parents and caregivers. RESULTS: An enteric pathogen was detected in 66.6% of stool samples: Cryptosporidium spp. (30.0%), rotavirus (25.1%), Giardia lamblia (21.6%), diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (6.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (4.1%), adenovirus (3.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (3.5%), astrovirus (2.6%), Hymenolepis nana (1.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (0.9%), Taenia spp. (0.6%), Trichuris trichiura (0.3%) and Entamoeba histolytica (0.3%). Children younger than 12 months were more frequently infected with Cryptosporidium spp. compared with older children (age: 12-59 months), independently of sex, season, lethargy and wasting [odds ratio (OR): 3.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.0-6.2]. Age (OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 2.6-9.3), vomiting (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5-4.8) and type of admission (inpatients, OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) were significantly associated with rotavirus infection. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates high rates of infection with an enteric pathogen, particularly in children younger than 12 months, emphasizing the need to address diarrheal disease in this age group.
BACKGROUND:Diarrheal disease is among the leading causes of death in children younger than 5 years, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the most frequent etiological agents of diarrhea and its associated factors in children younger than 5 years attending the Bengo General Hospital in Angola. METHODS: From September 2012 through December 2013, stool samples were collected from 344 children presenting with diarrhea to investigate the presence of viral, bacterial and parasitic agents. Relevant sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from parents and caregivers. RESULTS: An enteric pathogen was detected in 66.6% of stool samples: Cryptosporidium spp. (30.0%), rotavirus (25.1%), Giardia lamblia (21.6%), diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (6.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (4.1%), adenovirus (3.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (3.5%), astrovirus (2.6%), Hymenolepis nana (1.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (0.9%), Taenia spp. (0.6%), Trichuris trichiura (0.3%) and Entamoeba histolytica (0.3%). Children younger than 12 months were more frequently infected with Cryptosporidium spp. compared with older children (age: 12-59 months), independently of sex, season, lethargy and wasting [odds ratio (OR): 3.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.0-6.2]. Age (OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 2.6-9.3), vomiting (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5-4.8) and type of admission (inpatients, OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) were significantly associated with rotavirus infection. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates high rates of infection with an enteric pathogen, particularly in children younger than 12 months, emphasizing the need to address diarrheal disease in this age group.
Authors: Gilbert Kotei Ashie; Mohamed Mutocheluh; Michael Owusu; Theophilus Benjamine Kwofie; Samuel Akonor; Patrick Williams Narkwa; Samuel Blay Nguah; Joslin Dogbe Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2017-07-11
Authors: Carolina Gasparinho; João Piedade; Maria Clara Mirante; Cristina Mendes; Carlos Mayer; Susana Vaz Nery; Miguel Brito; Claudia Istrate Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-04-19 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Elena Dacal; José M Saugar; Aida de Lucio; Marta Hernández-de-Mingo; Elena Robinson; Pamela C Köster; María L Aznar-Ruiz-de-Alegría; Mateu Espasa; Arlette Ninda; Javier Gandasegui; Elena Sulleiro; Milagros Moreno; Fernando Salvador; Israel Molina; Esperanza Rodríguez; David Carmena Journal: Parasit Vectors Date: 2018-01-29 Impact factor: 3.876