Cristine Bonfim

Spatial analysis and privation index to identify urban areas with a high risk of lymphatic filariasis

Objective  To evaluate composite living conditions as indicators of urban areas with a higher risk of filariasis transmission.

Situação da filariose bancroftiana na Região Metropolitana do Recife: estudo em uma área endêmica no Município de Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco, Brasil

This article analyzes the results of an epidemiological survey on the occurrence and distribution of lymphatic filariasis in Cavaleiro, a district in the city of Jaboatão dos Guararapes in Greater Metropolitan Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. The district was divided into 12 areas, and a cross-sectional technique was used to examine 9,520 individuals, of whom 2.2% were found to be infected. There were positive cases in 11 of the areas. The prevalence rate ranged from 0% to 5.15%. The majority (64.3%) of infected individuals were males (p < 0.05). Infected individuals were identified in all age groups. The results show that lymphatic filariasis is still an important public health problem in the Cavaleiro district and that it deserves attention by municipal authorities and health planners.

Diferenciais na adequação das informações de eventos vitais nos municípios de Pernambuco, 2006-2008

OBJECTIVE To assess differentials in official birth and death data for estimating infant mortality. METHODS An ecological study was conducted based on data obtained from birth and death information systems in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, between 2006 and 2008. The following indicators were used: age-standardized mortality rate, relative mean deviation of mortality rate, ratio of reported to estimated live births, relative mean deviation of birth rate and proportion of deaths of unknown cause. These indicators were grouped into three dimensions: mortality, fertility and ill-defined causes. Based on predetermined criteria, municipalities were classified as follows: consolidated vital data; vital data in the consolidation phase; and non-consolidated data. The data were analyzed using EpiInfo and Terraview for map preparation. RESULTS Of the 185 municipalities in the state of Pernambuco, 141 (76.2%) were classified as having consolidated vital data, accounting for about 85% of the state population, and 17 (9.2%) were classified as having non-consolidated data, accounting for only 4.9% of the population. Larger municipalities (50,000 inhabitants or more) showed better data quality. CONCLUSION The approach studied proved itself valuable to assess the quality of vital information and identify inequalities in Pernambuco. Reduction of inequalities is a challenge in this state in the sense of enabling vital information to be analyzed directly from data systems at the local level. It will also allow assessing the effectiveness of initiatives to reduce infant mortality in Pernambuco.

The epidemiological delimitation of lymphatic filariasis in an endemic area of Brazil, 41 years after the first recorded case.

Abstract In 2002, the status of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in the district of Jaboatão, in north-eastern Brazil, was reviewed, 41 years after the first case of the disease was recorded in the area. Current data from Jaboatão were compared with older information from the district that had been published, as official reports on filariasis cases and mosquitoes and as the result of population surveys, between 1948 and 1997. Although the first microfilaria-positive cases were detected in the district in 1959, it was not until 1993 that the national Ministry of Health categorized Jaboatão as an endemic area. In 2002, fingerprick samples of blood, each of about 50 μl, were collected at night (23.00–01.00 hours) from 4365 individuals in the district and used to make thick smears. Microfilariae were detected in the smears of blood from 33 (0.8%) of the subjects, 12 of whom were considered autochthonous cases of LF. The male subjects were significantly more likely to be microfilaraemic than the female (1.1% v. 0.4%; P<0.05) but there was no direct relationship between prevalence and age, the microfilaraemics varying in age from 6–64 years. The Socorro sub-district had the highest prevalence, of 2.9%. It is recommended that the National Programme to Eliminate Filariasis uses mass drug administrations and vector control throughout the district, regardless of the prevalences recorded in the latest survey.

Epidemiological Assessment of Neglected Diseases in Children: Lymphatic Filariasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis

OBJECTIVE To report the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis and intestinal parasitic infections in school-aged children living in a filariasis endemic area and discuss about the therapeutic regimen adopted in Brazil for the large-scale treatment of filariasis. METHODS A cross-sectional study including 508 students aged 5-18 years old, enrolled in public schools within the city of Olinda, Pernambuco. The presence of intestinal parasites was analyzed using the Hoffman, Pons and Janer method on 3 stool samples. The diagnosis of filarial infection was performed using the rapid immunochromatographic technique (ICT) for the antigen, and the polycarbonate membrane filtration for the presence of microfilariae. Descriptive statistics of the data was performed using EpiInfo version 7. RESULTS The prevalence of filariasis was 13.8% by ICT and 1.2% by microfilaraemia, while intestinal parasites were detected in 64.2% of cases. Concurrent diagnosis of filariasis and intestinal parasites was 9.4%, while 31.5% of students were parasite-free. Among individuals with intestinal parasites, 55% had one parasite and 45% had more than one parasite. Geohelminths occurred in 72.5% of the parasited individuals. In the group with filarial infection the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis was 54.5%. CONCLUSIONS The simultaneous diagnosis of filariasis and intestinal parasites as well as the high frequency of geohelminths justify the need to reevaluate the treatment strategy used in the Brazilian filariasis large-scale treatment program.Objective To report the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis and intestinal parasitic infections in school-aged children living in a filariasis endemic area and discuss about the therapeutic regimen adopted in Brazil for the large-scale treatment of filariasis.

A filariose bancroftiana no município de Moreno - Pernambuco, Brasil

No Brasil, estima-se que 49 mil pessoas estejam infectadas pela Wuchereria bancrofti, residindo em tres areas consideradas endemicas: Maceio-AL, Belem-PA e Regiao Metropolitana do Recife-PE; esta ultima apresenta a maior casuistica no pais. Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar o limite entre municipios com e sem transmissao ativa, em Pernambuco. Para tal foi realizado um estudo seccional no municipio de Moreno, localizado na Regiao Metropolitana do Recife. O inquerito epidemiologico foi constituido de entrevistas utilizando questionarios fechados contendo informacoes relacionadas a filariose e a pesquisa parasitologica. Dentre os 2.513 exames realizados, dois casos foram detectados, ambos provenientes do Recife-PE. Quanto a manifestacao clinica, 65 (2,6%) individuos relataram queixas correlatas com filariose. Em relacao ao tratamento previo para filariose, 24 pessoas (0,9%) afirmaram ja terem tomado a dietilcarbamazina. A importância deste trabalho decorre do desconhecimento da extensao da endemia na Regiao Metropolitana do Recife e da constatacao de que Moreno apresenta os componentes para manter o ciclo parasitario. Desta forma, a vigilância epidemiologica municipal devera identificar as areas com maior risco de transmissao e assim criar estrategias para evitar sua fixacao.

Análise espacial da mortalidade infantil e adequação das informações vitais: uma proposta para definição de áreas prioritárias

This is an ecological study that sought to assess the relationship between the spatial clustering of infant mortality and the adequacy of vital information. The adequacy of information from the Brazilian Live Birth Database (SINASC) and Mortality Database (SIM) were examined using a validated method that uses five indicators calculated by municipality and population size. Municipalities were classified as either having consolidated data, data currently being consolidated, or not having consolidated data. Voronoi polygons were generated for spatial analysis in order to minimize any proximity issues among municipalities. The local Moran index was applied to identify spatial clustering of infant mortality. It was established that 76.2% of all municipalities had consolidated vital data. Infant mortality clustering was seen in 34 municipalities comprising three spatial clusters. An association was also found between the adequacy of vital information and the spatial clustering of infant mortality. Geostatistical techniques proved to have predictive power to identify spatial clustering with consolidated vital information. The approach will contribute to the improvement of data quality and can be used for planning actions seeking to reduce infant mortality.

Mapping of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in children and adolescents in an endemic area of Brazil.

A parasitological survey was conducted among children and adolescents in the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brazil to describe the occurrence and spatial distribution of lymphatic filariasis. Microfilaraemia was investigated through the thick smear technique, using 50 μl of capillary blood that was collected at night. The spatial analysis used a digital base map of the municipality, divided into districts, which were classified as hypoendemic, mesoendemic or hyperendemic. 8670 children were examined and 96 cases of microfilaraemia were identified (1.1%). The prevalence rate did not differ significantly between the sexes. Occurrences of filarial infection increased with increasing age: the greatest prevalence was recorded between 15 and 18 years of age (P<0.05). There were 49 reports of clinical manifestations. The spatial distribution of microfilaraemia according to residential district showed that 13 (54.2%) of the 24 districts investigated were positive. Approximately 33% of the districts were hyperendemic. The results demonstrated that the pediatric population had intense early exposure to the parasite, thus characterizing filariasis as endemic in the municipality. The spatial analysis allowed identification of areas with greater occurrence of infection among children, and showed localities where the populations most exposed to transmission were concentrated. Epidemiological surveillance of microfilaraemia among children and spatial analysis are important local transmission indicators and form instruments for planning actions within the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, since they make it possible to identify priority areas.

Original articleEpidemiological assessment of neglected diseases in children: lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasisPrevalência de doenças negligenciadas em escolares: filariose linfática e parasitoses intestinais☆

OBJECTIVE To report the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis and intestinal parasitic infections in school-aged children living in a filariasis endemic area and discuss about the therapeutic regimen adopted in Brazil for the large-scale treatment of filariasis. METHODS A cross-sectional study including 508 students aged 5-18 years old, enrolled in public schools within the city of Olinda, Pernambuco. The presence of intestinal parasites was analyzed using the Hoffman, Pons and Janer method on 3 stool samples. The diagnosis of filarial infection was performed using the rapid immunochromatographic technique (ICT) for the antigen, and the polycarbonate membrane filtration for the presence of microfilariae. Descriptive statistics of the data was performed using EpiInfo version 7. RESULTS The prevalence of filariasis was 13.8% by ICT and 1.2% by microfilaraemia, while intestinal parasites were detected in 64.2% of cases. Concurrent diagnosis of filariasis and intestinal parasites was 9.4%, while 31.5% of students were parasite-free. Among individuals with intestinal parasites, 55% had one parasite and 45% had more than one parasite. Geohelminths occurred in 72.5% of the parasited individuals. In the group with filarial infection the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis was 54.5%. CONCLUSIONS The simultaneous diagnosis of filariasis and intestinal parasites as well as the high frequency of geohelminths justify the need to reevaluate the treatment strategy used in the Brazilian filariasis large-scale treatment program.Objective To report the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis and intestinal parasitic infections in school-aged children living in a filariasis endemic area and discuss about the therapeutic regimen adopted in Brazil for the large-scale treatment of filariasis.

Mortalidade infantil por doenças infecciosas e parasitárias: reflexo das desigualdades sociais em um município do Nordeste do Brasil

OBJECTIVES: to study the relationship between the coefficient of infant mortality (CIM) due to infectious and parasitic diseases (IPD) and the social need indicator, thereby identifying geographical areas at greater risk in the municipality of Jaboatao dos Guararapes, in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: an ecological study was carried out, in which the units of analysis were the districts of the municipality. The mortality and live birth information systems of the Ministry of Health were used to calculate the CIM/IPD, and the social need indicator was established using socioeconomic data from the 2000 census. RESULTS: the CIM/IPD was 3.56 per 1000 live births and the postnatal mortality coefficient was 3.39 per 1000 live births. There was a correlation between the social need indicator and the CIM/IPD (r=0.87; p=0.008; F=12.88). It was found that there was 48% greater risk of dying from infectious and parasitic diseases before reaching one year of age (RR=1.479) among the children in the stratum of greatest social need. CONCLUSIONS: the social need indicator is a useful instrument for planning local healthcare actions and helps with the adoption measures that bring about a reduction in infant mortality. However, this should not direct attention away from the development of adequate social and economic policies for needier areas.