No abstract

Proximity to wastewater constitutes an infection hazard by ascariasis. This is supported by the results of an epidemiologic study of a group of children living near an area of wastewater effluents. The subjects of this study were schoolchildren from Sidi Daoui, a neighborhood located in the area of the main effluent of the city of El Jadida, Morocco. For a comparative approach, a control group was selected from Sidi Moussa, a neighborhood far from the discharge area. The incidence of ascariasis was 18.1% in the study group (Sidi Daoui) and 1% in the control group (Sidi Moussa). It was found that 71% of the exposed children were suffering from acute parasitic infections. The risk attributable to wastewater in transmitting ascariasis to examined children in Sidi Daoui was about 17%. Boys, particularly those aged 7 - 10, appeared to be the most vulnerable to contracting ascariasis. This study demonstrates the relationship between ascariasis in children and their proximity to wastewater effluents.

Purpose -This work evaluates the risk of wastewater in transmitting intestinal helminths to a population living near an urban effluent. Design/methodology/approach -This study is a copro-epidemiological evaluation of the school-age children of Sidi Daoui, a neighbourhood in the discharge area of the main sewer of the city of El Jadida and a control group from Sidi Moussa, a district far from the discharge area. Findings -Intestinal helminths are more prevalent among the children of the study group of Sidi Daoui by 43 percent, compared with 20 percent in the control group, mainly caused by ascariasis and hymenolepiasis. Enterobiasis is an intestinal vermin present with similar expansion in both zones. Polyparasitism, which cannot be found in the control group, is 6 percent in the discharge area. A total of 22 percent of helminthiasis cases among these children are attributed to wastewater, in particular ascariasis (17 percent) and hymenolepiasis (11 percent). It was found that boys are the most vulnerable, mostly between the ages of seven to nine. Originality/value -Provides some useful information concerning the risk of wastewater transmitting intestinal helminths.