Soil-transmitted helminth infections in school children from Cocle Province, Republic of Panama

A survey was carried out to determine values for the prevalence and intensity of infection of intestinal helminths in children living in Cocle Province, Republic of Panama. The data set consisted of the results of microscopic examinations (modified Kato Katz technique) of stool samples collected in November 1987 from 661 children attending primary schools in 4 communities in the province. The overall prevalences of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura infections were found to be 18.2, 12.0 and 27.5% respectively. There were significant differences between the infection prevalence values for children attending the different schools, but not with respect to age or sex. Positive associations were detected between particular pairs of infections and these were most evident when Trichuris trichiura was involved. The data revealed evidence of a positive association between siblings at one school only for each helminth infection. There was extreme variation in the values for intensity of infection (20-126180 epg for A. lumbricoides). Highly significant, and unexplained, differences were observed in the intensity of A. lumbricoides infection by primary school; this finding did not apply to hookworm or T. trichiura. The analysis also revealed that children heavily infected with A. lumbricoides were also likely to be heavily infected with T. trichiura. Comparisons with the results of surveys carried out in Cocle Province in 1926 and 1974 indicate that these infections are declining in this region of Panama.