A longitudinal study of Giardia lamblia infection in north-east Brazilian children

Robert D. Newman; Sean R. Moore; Aldo A.M. Lima; James P. Nataro; Richard L. Guerrant; Cynthia L. Sears

doi:10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00757.x

A longitudinal study of Giardia lamblia infection in north-east Brazilian children

Robert D. Newman, Sean R. Moore, Aldo A.M. Lima, James P. Nataro, Richard L. Guerrant, Cynthia L. Sears

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology of Giardia lamblia infection, investigate factors which might be associated with clinical manifestations and recurrence, and examine the role of copathogens in disease course. METHODS: Prospective 4-year cohort study of children born in an urban slum in north-eastern Brazil. RESULTS: Of 157 children followed for ≥ 3 months, 43 (27.4%) were infected with Giardia. The organism was identified in 8.8% of all stool specimens, and although found with similar frequency in non-diarrhoeal (7.4%) and diarrhoeal stools (9.7%), was more common in children with persistent (20.6%) than acute diarrhoea (7.6%, P = 0.002). Recurrent or relapsing infections were common (46%). Children with symptomatic infections had significantly lower weight-for-age and height-for-age than asymptomatic children. Copathogens were not associated with disease course. CONCLUSION: With its protean clinical manifestations, Giardia may be associated with substantial morbidity amongst children in Brazil.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	624-634
Number of pages	11
Journal	Tropical Medicine and International Health
Volume	6
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00757.x
State	Published - 2001

Keywords

Asymptomatic
Brazil
Child
Diarrhoea
Giardia lamblia
Malnutrition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Parasitology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

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10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00757.x

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title = "A longitudinal study of Giardia lamblia infection in north-east Brazilian children",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology of Giardia lamblia infection, investigate factors which might be associated with clinical manifestations and recurrence, and examine the role of copathogens in disease course. METHODS: Prospective 4-year cohort study of children born in an urban slum in north-eastern Brazil. RESULTS: Of 157 children followed for ≥ 3 months, 43 (27.4%) were infected with Giardia. The organism was identified in 8.8% of all stool specimens, and although found with similar frequency in non-diarrhoeal (7.4%) and diarrhoeal stools (9.7%), was more common in children with persistent (20.6%) than acute diarrhoea (7.6%, P = 0.002). Recurrent or relapsing infections were common (46%). Children with symptomatic infections had significantly lower weight-for-age and height-for-age than asymptomatic children. Copathogens were not associated with disease course. CONCLUSION: With its protean clinical manifestations, Giardia may be associated with substantial morbidity amongst children in Brazil.",

keywords = "Asymptomatic, Brazil, Child, Diarrhoea, Giardia lamblia, Malnutrition",

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AU - Moore, Sean R.

AU - Lima, Aldo A.M.

AU - Nataro, James P.

AU - Guerrant, Richard L.

AU - Sears, Cynthia L.

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology of Giardia lamblia infection, investigate factors which might be associated with clinical manifestations and recurrence, and examine the role of copathogens in disease course. METHODS: Prospective 4-year cohort study of children born in an urban slum in north-eastern Brazil. RESULTS: Of 157 children followed for ≥ 3 months, 43 (27.4%) were infected with Giardia. The organism was identified in 8.8% of all stool specimens, and although found with similar frequency in non-diarrhoeal (7.4%) and diarrhoeal stools (9.7%), was more common in children with persistent (20.6%) than acute diarrhoea (7.6%, P = 0.002). Recurrent or relapsing infections were common (46%). Children with symptomatic infections had significantly lower weight-for-age and height-for-age than asymptomatic children. Copathogens were not associated with disease course. CONCLUSION: With its protean clinical manifestations, Giardia may be associated with substantial morbidity amongst children in Brazil.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology of Giardia lamblia infection, investigate factors which might be associated with clinical manifestations and recurrence, and examine the role of copathogens in disease course. METHODS: Prospective 4-year cohort study of children born in an urban slum in north-eastern Brazil. RESULTS: Of 157 children followed for ≥ 3 months, 43 (27.4%) were infected with Giardia. The organism was identified in 8.8% of all stool specimens, and although found with similar frequency in non-diarrhoeal (7.4%) and diarrhoeal stools (9.7%), was more common in children with persistent (20.6%) than acute diarrhoea (7.6%, P = 0.002). Recurrent or relapsing infections were common (46%). Children with symptomatic infections had significantly lower weight-for-age and height-for-age than asymptomatic children. Copathogens were not associated with disease course. CONCLUSION: With its protean clinical manifestations, Giardia may be associated with substantial morbidity amongst children in Brazil.

KW - Asymptomatic

KW - Brazil

KW - Child

KW - Diarrhoea

KW - Giardia lamblia

KW - Malnutrition

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A longitudinal study of Giardia lamblia infection in north-east Brazilian children

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Keywords

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