Care-seeking behaviour and diagnostic processes for symptomatic giardiasis in children attending an academic paediatric hospital.
Pathog Glob Health
; 108(6): 271-8, 2014 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25253040
ABSTRACT
Giardiasis is one of the commonest intestinal parasitic infections in Cuba. In order to determine care-seeking behaviour and diagnostic processes in paediatric in-patients with giardiasis, structured questionnaires were administered by interview mothers of children with giardiasis during January to December 2010. During the study period, 97 children were diagnosed with giardiasis, of whom 86 (88·6%) caregivers were interviewed. The median number of days from symptoms onset to the first presentation in a health unit was 2 days (range 0-15 days). The pattern of care-seeking behaviour was variable; 41 (47·7%) of children initially visited the emergency unit in a paediatric hospital. Sixty-six children had, at least, one further contact for help before diagnosis of giardiasis was made (range 1-5 contacts) and of the 128 contact visits, 94 (73·4%) were also targeted more to hospitals. There was a median time of 6 days between the first presentation to a health unit until diagnosis, which was mainly made by microscopic examination of duodenal aspiration. Among factors investigated in mothers, only knowing other person with giardiasis had significant association with their ability to suspect giardiasis [odds ratio (OR) 29·8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3·71-239·4, Pâ=â0·001]. Requesting a faecal specimen or ordering duodenal aspiration for microscopic examination during the first visit appeared associated with correct diagnosis (OR 3·84, 95% CI 1·57-9·40, Pâ=â0·003). Efforts should be made to increase doctors' awareness of- and diagnostic skills for childhood giardiasis. At the same time, it is necessary to improve caregivers' awareness about giardiasis.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Aceptación de la Atención de Salud
/
Giardiasis
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
País/Región como asunto:
Caribe
/
Cuba
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Pathog Glob Health
Año:
2014
Tipo del documento:
Article