RESUMEN
Approximately half the world uses biomass fuel for domestic energy, resulting in widespread exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass smoke. IAP has been associated with many respiratory diseases, though it is not clear what relationship exists between biomass use and pulmonary function. Four groups containing 20 households each were selected in Santa Ana, Ecuador based on the relative amount of liquid petroleum gas and biomass fuel that they used for cooking. Pulmonary function tests were conducted on each available member of the households 7 years of age. The pulmonary functions of both children (7-15 years) and women (16 years) were then compared between cooking fuel categories using multivariate linear regression, controlling for the effects of age, gender, height, and exposure to tobacco smoke. Among the 80 households, 77 children and 91 women performed acceptable and reproducible spirometry. In multivariate analysis, children living in homes that use biomass fuel and children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke had lower forced vital capacity and lower forced expiratory volume in 1s (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in pulmonary function was observed among women in different cooking categories. Results of this study demonstrate the harmful effects of IAP from biomass smoke on the lung function of children and emphasize the need for public health efforts to decrease exposure to biomass smoke.
Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior/efectos adversos , Culinaria , Fuentes Generadoras de Energía , Volumen Espiratorio Forzado/efectos de los fármacos , Capacidad Vital/efectos de los fármacos , Adolescente , Adulto , Biomasa , Niño , Ecuador , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Salud Rural/estadística & datos numéricos , Humo/efectos adversos , Espirometría , Contaminación por Humo de Tabaco/efectos adversosRESUMEN
In preparation for a study of risk factors for Visceral Larva Migrans of children living in São Remo Community, São Paulo (SP), Brazil, fecal samples were collected from 41 dogs younger than one year of age, 338 serum samples from children ages 1-15 years and 37 soil samples, during March-June 2001. Fecal and soil samples were examined for the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs and serum samples were evaluated by ELISA for antibodies to Toxocara canis. Of the fecal, serum and soil samples tested, 39.0%, 26.9% and 29.7%, respectively, were positive, suggesting the possibility of the presence of Visceral Larva Migrans in children.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Larva Migrans Visceral/epidemiología , Larva Migrans Visceral/veterinaria , Toxocara/crecimiento & desarrollo , Zoonosis/epidemiología , Zoonosis/parasitología , Adolescente , Animales , Anticuerpos Antihelmínticos/sangre , Brasil/epidemiología , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Niño , Preescolar , Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Perros , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Heces/parasitología , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Larva Migrans Visceral/parasitología , Masculino , Recuento de Huevos de Parásitos/veterinaria , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Suelo/parasitología , Población UrbanaRESUMEN
In order to create a parasite prevention program for Santa Ana, Ecuador, we worked with local physicians to identify the prevalence and risk factors for intestinal parasitic infection among children. Two hundred households were randomly selected and asked to submit three stool samples from a selected child. Information from direct observation and questionnaires was used to determine environmental and behavioral risk factors for parasitic infection. Prevalence of any parasitic infection was 65.6% of the 189 children who submitted fecal samples. Parasitic infections included Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (46.6%), Giardia lamblia (18.5%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (20.1%). In a multivariate logistic model, risk factors (P<0.05) for E. histolytica/E. dispar included >1 month since antiparasitic treatment, not adding chlorine to drinking water, children not washing their hands before eating, and having a fewer number of electrical appliances in the home. The risk factor identified for G. lamblia was children not washing their hands before eating. Risk factors for A. lumbricoides included >6 months since antiparasitic treatment and having a fewer number of electrical appliances in the home. This study may have implications for other communities throughout the developing world.