A Comparison of the Risk for Chronic Fascioliasis between Children 3 to 5 Years and Children 6 to 12 Years of Age in the Cusco Region of Peru

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2021-09, Vol.105 (3), p.684-687
• Main Authors: Tanabe, Melinda B., Caravedo, Maria A., Morales, Maria L., Lopez, Martha, White, A. Clinton, Baca-Turpo, Benicia, Arque, Eulogia, Cabada, Miguel M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1649

School-age children bear the highest burden of fascioliasis in endemic countries. Few studies have addressed Fasciola in preschool children. We performed a secondary data analysis using two Fasciola databases from Cusco, Peru, comparing preschoolers with elementary school children. We included 2,630 children, 50% were female, the median age was 8.4 years (interquartile range [IQR] 6.1–10.5), and 15% (396/2,630) were < 5 years of age. Children < 5 years were less likely to be infected with Fasciola hepatica ( P = 0.008) and Hymenolepis nana ( P < 0.001) and more likely to have anemia ( P < 0.001) and a lower median height for age Z (HAZ) score ( P = 0.002). Fascioliasis was less common in younger children, but this group may be at higher risk for chronic complications caused by fascioliasis.