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. 2018 Aug 22;15(9):1809.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph15091809.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Cryptosporidium Infections in Elementary School Children in Southwestern China: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Dongjian Yang  1   2   3 , Ya Yang  4   5   6 , Yingjian Wang  7   8   9 , Yu Yang  10   11   12 , Shurong Dong  13   14   15 , Yue Chen  16 , Qingwu Jiang  17   18   19 , Yibiao Zhou  20   21   22
Affiliations

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Cryptosporidium Infections in Elementary School Children in Southwestern China: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Dongjian Yang et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections pose great public health challenges in school children in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and Cryptosporidium among elementary school children in rural southwestern China. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study involving 321 elementary school children was conducted in 2014 in the southwest of China. They were invited to provide a stool sample and interviewed about the sanitary situation and hygiene behavior. Stool specimens were examined for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura using the Kato-Katz fecal thick-smear technique. The presence of Cryptosporidium was determined using a modified acid-fast staining method. Results: The prevalence of infection was 10.0% (95% CI: 6.9⁻13.8%) for A. lumbricoides, 25.2% (95% CI: 20.6⁻30.4%) for T. trichiura and 2.4% for (95% CI: 1.1⁻4.9%) Cryptosporidium. The prevalence of co-infection was 3.7% (95% CI: 1.9⁻6.4%) for A. lumbricoides/T. trichiura, 0.3% (95% CI: 0⁻1.7%) for A. lumbricoides/Cryptosporidium and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.2⁻2.7%) for T. trichiura/Cryptosporidium. Children from households using well or river water were associated with a greater odds of A. lumbricoides infection (aOR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.12⁻6.05). Having a household lavatory was associated with a lower odds of T. trichiura infection (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30⁻0.84). Children who had three meals at the school canteen on week days were at a lower risk of Cryptosporidium infection. The use of spring water as a water source was associated with lower odds of any intestinal infection (aOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35⁻0.91). Conclusions: Our study calls for an intervention program of school-based deworming combined with health education, hygiene promotion and provision of safe water and improved sanitation.

Keywords: A. lumbricoides; China; Cryptosporidium; T. trichiura; school children.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of the study area, showing Lw Primary School in Lw town, Puge County.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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