Intestinal parasites and bacteria in Aboriginal children in South West Australia |
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Authors: | J. S. GILL H. I. JONES |
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Affiliation: | Community &Child Health Services, Mt Hawthorn, Western Australia |
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Abstract: | In a study of intestinal parasites in 697 Aboriginal children under the age of 6 years in South-west Australia, Giardia lamblia was recorded in 26% and Hymenolepis nana in 13.9%. G. lamblia infections occurred above 4 months of age, and H. nana infections above 18 months of age. There was a close correlation between infection with these two species (X2, P <0.001). Campylobacter jejuni , the predominant bacterial species recorded, was isolated in 2.3%, and was related to bowel symptoms in one child. G. lamblia was more prevalent in the country areas than in the Perth metropolitan area (X2, P <0.05. H. nana was more prevalent in children whose weight was below the third percentile (X2, P <0.02), and in those with diarrhoea (X2, P <0.01). There were strong correlations between low weight (below third percentile), a history of recent diarrhoea, and discharging ears. |
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Keywords: | Aboriginal children intestinal infection |
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