Frequency of toxocara infection in children attended by the health public service of Maringá, south Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARYThe lack of specific laboratorial diagnosis methods and precise symptoms makes the toxocariasis a neglected disease in Public Health Services. This study aims to determine the frequency of Toxocara spp. infection in children attended by the Health Public Service of Hospital Municipal de Maringá, South Brazil. To evaluate the association of epidemiological and clinical data, an observational and cross-section study was carried out. From 14,690 attended children/year aged from seven month to 12 years old, 450 serum samples were randomly collected from September/2004 to September/2005. A questionnaire was used to evaluate epidemiological, clinical and hematological data. An ELISA using Toxocara canis larval excretory-secretory products as antigen detected 130 (28.8%) positive sera, mainly between children from seven month to five years old (p = 0.0016). Significant correlation was observed between positive serology for Toxocara, and frequent playing in sandbox at school or daycare center (p = 0.011) and the presence of a cat at home (p = 0.056). From the families, 50% were dog owners which exposed soil backyards. Eosinophilia (p = 0.776), and signs and symptoms analyzed (fever p = 0.992, pneumonia p = 0.289, cold-like symptoms p = 0.277, cough p = 0.783, gastrointestinal problems p = 0.877, migraine p = 0.979, abdominal pain p = 0.965, joint pain p = 0.686 and skin rash p = 0.105) could not be related to the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies. Therefore, two asthmatics children showed titles of 1:10,240 and accentuated eosinophilia (p = 0.0001). The authors emphasize the needs of prevention activities.

Toxocariasis in children attending a Public Health Service Pneumology Unit in Paraná State, Brazil

“…Previous studies in this region have reported that eosinophilia is present in 7.8% (30/386) 1,5,14,15,17,18 . In this study, we have observed two cases of moderate eosinophilia in patients with anti-Toxocara spp.…”

“…Previous seroepidemiological studies involving children attending regional BHUs in the Brazilian state of Paraná have reported seropositivity rates between 32.2% and 56.0% 1,5,14,15,17,18 . However, in our study, only seven out of 167 children (4.2%) showed anti-Toxocara spp.…”

“…In the nine cities investigated (Astorga, Colorado, Mandaguaçu, Mandaguari, Marialva, Maringá, Nova Esperança, Paiçandu, and Sarandi), we have observed that the seroprevalence of toxocariasis varies from 32.2% to 56% 1,5,14,15,17,18 . Among the signs and symptoms analyzed, pulmonary ones were the most reported 1,5,14,15,17,18 . Therefore, the aims of this work were to verify whether the rates of toxocariasis frequency found in our previous research was repeated in children referred to the public pneumology service, and describe the laboratorial, clinical and epidemiological findings of the seropositive children.…”

“…Exposure to Toxocara spp. in childhood is a very common condition in our region 1,5,15,17 and it is expected that this could result in an increased demand for specialized pulmonary disease services. Nevertheless, this is not the case.…”

“…The CISAMUSEP receives children referred by BHUs and other health services in 30 cities. The results were compared with the epidemiological data of children from the same region using previous reported studies 1,5,14,15,17,18 .…”