A health and seroepidemiological survey in Bridgetown, Barbados

ABSTRACT

A 10 percent sample of households in District 13 and 14 were studied by health questionnaire and blood sample. Of 1399 persons in the target houses, blood samples were obtained from 1109 or an 80 percent response rate. Of 290 children examined, 26 percent had active skin disease and 10 percent (28 children) had group A Hemolytic streptococci on the skin, 7 percent were pharyngeal and 1.4 percent were nasal carriers. Twenty-one of the children had some degree of proteinuria (trace or more). Cardiac murmurs were found in 30 of 67 adults (30 percent) and in 31 of 238 children (11 percent) examined. Serological tests reveal that (1) only 40 percent of persons of all ages have rubella antibody. (2) Twenty percent have CF antibody to dengue and the age distribution of antibody indicates an outbreak 25 years ago. (3) Eight percent have reactive VDRL tests of which 92.9 percent have been confirmed by the FTA/absorbed test. (4) Over 95 percent have antibody to Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of infectious mononucleosis) and 78.5 percent have antibody to dytomegalovirus. (5) Antibody to A2/Hong Kong influenza virus was present in 84.9 percent and to influenza group B in 68.3 percent. (6) Adequate levels of diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin were found in 70 percent of the sera from 100 children. (7) Initial tests for poliomyelitis antibody suggest low or absent levels in some children despite a vigorous immunization programme. The importance of the survey in planning immunization and control programmes will be discussed (AU)