Risk factors for development of first symptomatic Giardia infection among infants of a birth cohort in rural Egypt

Abstract

Giardia infection is associated with diarrheal diseases among infants and young children in both industrialized and developing countries. A study was conducted to demonstrate the predisposing factors for occurrence of the first symptomatic Giardia infection among infants in rural Egypt. The study cohort was followed from birth through the first year of life. Univariate and multivariate analyses of data revealed that infants less than six months of age were at special risk for developing their first symptomatic infection compared with infants more than six months of age. Analysis of the data, furthermore, revealed an increased risk of infant Giardia infection associated with living in a household without a latrine (relative risk [RR] = 2.63, confidence interval [CI] = 1.4-4.9, P < 0.05), a mud floor in the sleeping rooms (RR = 1.79, CI = 1.O30-3.0, P < 0.05), and household exposure to more than 10 chickens (RR = 2.5, CI = 1.13-5.56, P < 0.05). In contrast, the mother's education beyond the primary level (RR = 0.28, CI = 0.09-0.85, P < 0.05), drinking water stored in metallic containers (RR = 0.33, CI = 0.11-0.98, P < 0.05), and male sex (RR = 0.52, CI = 0.3-0.89, P < 0.05) were associated with decreased risk of Giardia infection. These data suggest that in addition to age of infants, poverty, low education, gender discrimination, and certain environmental conditions potentiated the risk for developing the first symptomatic infection.