Playful educational intervention with schoolchildren on intestinal parasitosis / Intervención educativa lúdica sobre parasitosis intestinales con escolares / Intervenção educativa lúdica sobre parasitoses intestinais com escolares

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the playful educational interventions in the knowledge of schoolchildren about intestinal parasitosis. Method: This is a quasi-experimental, non-randomized study, based on pre- and post-intervention, conducted in a public elementary school in a peripheric neighborhood in the city of Ribeirão Preto (SP). The study population consisted of 101 students enrolled in the 5th and 6th grade. For comparison, we used the generalized version of the McNemar chi-squared test. Results: Of the 101 schoolchildren who participated in the study, 48 (47.5%) were female and 53 (52.5%) were male, aged from 9 to 14 years. Students' knowledge on intestinal parasitic infections has increased significantly after the playful educational intervention. Conclusion: Playful educational interventions are an excellent didactical resource in the teaching-learning process of schoolchildren.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar las intervenciones educativas lúdicas en el conocimiento de escolares sobre enteroparasitosis. Método: Se trata de estudio casi-experimental, no aleatorizado, basado en la pre y pos-intervención, que ha sido ocurrido en escuela pública de enseñanza primaria de un barrio de la periferia en la ciudad de Ribeirão Preto (SP). La población del estudio ha sido conformada por 101 alumnos que cursaban el 5º y el 6º año. Para realizar la comparación ha sido utilizada la versión generalizada de la prueba chi-cuadrada de McNemar. Resultados: De los 101 escolares que han participado del estudio, 48 (el 47,5%) eran del sexo femenino y 53 (el 52,5%) del sexo masculino, con edad entre 9 a 14 años. El conocimiento de los alumnos sobre enteroparasitosis después de la intervención educativa lúdica se ha incrementado significativamente. Conclusión: Las intervenciones educativas lúdicas son un excelente recurso didáctico en el contexto del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje de escolares.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar as intervenções educativas lúdicas no conhecimento de escolares sobre enteroparasitoses. Método: Trata-se de estudo quase-experimental, não randomizado, baseado na pré e pós-intervenção, ocorrido em escola pública de ensino fundamental de um bairro da periferia na cidade de Ribeirão Preto (SP). A população do estudo foi composta por 101 alunos que cursavam o 5º e o 6º ano. Para efetuar a comparação foi utilizada a versão generalizada do teste qui-quadrado de McNemar. Resultados: Dos 101 escolares que participaram do estudo, 48 (47,5%) eram do sexo feminino e 53 (52,5%) do sexo masculino, com idade entre 9 a 14 anos. O conhecimento dos alunos sobre enteroparasitoses após a intervenção educativa lúdica aumentou significativamente. Conclusão: As intervenções educativas lúdicas são um excelente recurso didático no contexto do processo ensino-aprendizagem de escolares.

Playful educational intervention with schoolchildren on intestinal parasitosis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the playful educational interventions in the knowledge of schoolchildren about intestinal parasitosis. METHOD: This is a quasi-experimental, non-randomized study, based on pre- and post-intervention, conducted in a public elementary school in a peripheric neighborhood in the city of Ribeirão Preto (SP). The study population consisted of 101 students enrolled in the 5th and 6th grade. For comparison, we used the generalized version of the McNemar chi-squared test. RESULTS: Of the 101 schoolchildren who participated in the study, 48 (47.5%) were female and 53 (52.5%) were male, aged from 9 to 14 years. Students' knowledge on intestinal parasitic infections has increased significantly after the playful educational intervention. CONCLUSION: Playful educational interventions are an excellent didactical resource in the teaching-learning process of schoolchildren.

Care-seeking behaviour and diagnostic processes for symptomatic giardiasis in children attending an academic paediatric hospital.

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, P = 0·001]. 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, P = 0·003). 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.

Effect of cryptosporidial and giardial diarrhoea on social maturity, intelligence and physical growth in children in a semi-urban slum in south India.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood diarrhoea is a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Recurrent and persistent diarrhoea affect growth and cognition in children as young as 6 years. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of early childhood cryptosporidial and giardial diarrhoea on growth and development in children in a semi-urban slum in India. This is the first report of such assessment at 3 years of age. METHODS: This study was undertaken on 116 children who were part of an ongoing birth cohort study (n=452) of rotaviral and cryptosporidial diarrhoea between June and December 2005. Social quotients (SQ) assessed by the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, intelligence quotients (IQ) assessed by the Seguin Form Board Test, physical growth parameters and sociodemographic data in 84 children with a history of cryptosporidial or giardial diarrhoea were compared with those of 32 without diarrhoea. RESULTS: Children with a past history of giardial diarrhoea showed a trend towards lower SQ (p=0.09) and had significantly lower IQ (p=0.04) and increased wasting (p=0.04). Cryptosporidial diarrhoea was not associated with poor IQ, SQ or physical growth. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the long-term effect of protozoan diarrhoea, especially that caused by giardia, on both intelligence and physical growth in Indian children as early as 3 years of age and re-inforces the need for early detection and prevention of early childhood protozoan diarrhoea.

Giardiasis--why do the symptoms sometimes never stop?

Although giardiasis is considered by most medical practitioners to be an easily treated infection, prolonged symptoms due to, or following, Giardia duodenalis infection can have a significant impact on quality of life. Symptom recurrence, including abdominal symptoms and fatigue, can result from re-infection, treatment failure, disturbances in the gut mucosa or post-infection syndromes. In developed countries, these sequelae can have an enormous impact on quality of life; in developing countries, particularly in children, they add yet another burden to populations that are already disadvantaged. Here, we outline current knowledge, based on individual case sequelae from sporadic infections, observations of population effects following outbreaks and studies of phenotypic and genotypic diversity between morphologically identical isolates of parasites. We also raise further questions, looking for clues as to why giardiasis sometimes becomes an intrusive, long-term problem.

Subjective health complaints and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following Giardia lamblia infection: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with unexplained medical symptoms, and the degree of somatic comorbidity may indicate whether the aetiology of IBS is predominantly psychological or biological in origin. The purpose of this study was to examine the comorbidity and quality of life of patients with IBS following infection with Giardia lamblia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients with persistent abdominal symptoms, initiated by an acute infection with G. lamblia, completed questionnaires for scoring of subjective health complaints (SHC) and quality of life (Short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI)). The scores were compared with corresponding scores in persons from the general population (n=70). RESULTS: Compared with controls, each of the two groups of patients, those with present (n=17) and those with cured (n=50) G. lamblia infection, had significantly higher scores (p<0.0001) on SHC. However, subscores on somatic comorbidity (musculoskeletal pain) were low and similar to those in the general population (OR 1.2 (0.51-2.73)). Quality of life was substantially impaired in the patients; sum scores 30.0+/-8.0 (mean+/-SD) and 31.7+/-9.3 in the patient groups and 13.5+/-6.8 in the general population (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with post-giardiasis IBS suffer very little somatic comorbidity, suggesting that the aetiology of this form of postinfective IBS is predominantly biological in origin and may thus differ from the more common, non-postinfective forms of IBS. The combination of persisting abdominal symptoms and psychological distress might be a perpetuating factor contributing to low quality of life.

Quinacrine-induced psychiatric disturbances in a child with common variable immunodeficiency and chronic giardiasis.

Psychiatric disorders due to quinacrine for antiparasitic therapy represent an infrequent, but serious, complication. The remarkable course of a 12-year-old boy with common variable immunodeficiency who developed severe psychiatric reactions following quinacrine therapy for his resistant chronic giardiasis is presented. The broad clinical spectrum of quinacrine-associated neuropsychiatric disturbances has been emphasized for the clinicians.

[Delusions of intestinal parasitosis in a female patient with endogenous depression]. / Enterozoenwahn bei einer Patientin mit endogener Depression.

A 82-year old woman had, since the age of 50, a history of 9 phases of monopolar endogenous depression with abnormal intestinal sensations and hypochondriac delusions that appeared as delusional parasitosis in 5 of these phases. Differential diagnosis and therapeutic aspects are discussed.