Prevalence, intensity and risk factors of tungiasis in Kilifi County, Kenya: I. Results from a community-based study.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
; 11(10): e0005925, 2017 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28991909
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Tungiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by female sand fleas (Tunga penetrans) embedded in the skin. The disease is associated with important morbidity. Tungiasis is endemic along the Coast of Kenya with a prevalence ranging from 11% to 50% in school-age children. Hitherto, studies on epidemiological characteristics of tungiasis in Africa are scanty.METHODS:
In a cross-sectional study 1,086 individuals from 233 households in eight villages located in Kakuyuni and Malanga Sub-locations, Kilifi County, on the Kenyan Coast, were investigated. Study participants were examined systematically and the presence and severity of tungiasis were determined using standard methods. Demographic, socio-economic, environmental and behavioral risk factors of tungiasis were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate regression analysis.RESULTS:
The overall prevalence of tungiasis was 25.0% (95% CI 22.4-27.5%). Age-specific prevalence followed an S-shaped curve, peaking in the under-15 year old group. In 42.5% of the households at least one individual had tungiasis. 15.1% of patients were severely infected (≥ 30 lesions). In the bivariate analysis no specific animal species was identified as a risk factor for tungiasis. Multivariate analysis showed that the occurrence of tungiasis was related to living in a house with poor construction characteristics, such as mud walls (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.71-6.58), sleeping directly on the floor (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.03-2.74), the number of people per sleeping room (OR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.07-2.93) and washing the body without soap (OR = 7.36; 95% CI 3.08-17.62). The odds of having severe tungiasis were high in males (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.18-44.6) and were very high when only mud puddles were available as a water source and lack of water permitted washing only once a day (OR 25.48 (95% CI 3.50-185.67) and OR 2.23 (95% CI 1.11-4.51), respectively).CONCLUSIONS:
The results of this study show that in rural Kenya characteristics of poverty determine the occurrence and the severity of tungiasis. Intra-domiciliary transmission seems to occur regularly.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Tungíase
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Qualitative_research
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Animals
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Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
Assunto da revista:
MEDICINA TROPICAL
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha