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The pattern of cystic echinococcosis in children in an endemic area in Morocco

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Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic infection of major public health concern. The infection is generally acquired during childhood and the disease incubation period can last many years. The occurrence and characteristics of the disease in children were not well studied. The present study aimed to explore the pattern and features of cystic echinococcosis in children in rural and urban environments in Morocco. A total of 338 children diagnosed and treated for cystic echinococcosis were investigated. The trend of the infection, risk and exposure factors and the distribution of the anatomic locations of cysts were studied. A non-uniform decrease in proportions of infected children was found. Children from rural environs had significantly higher infection rates than children from urban environs (p < 0.001). Males were significantly more infected than females. Children aged 7–11 years were the most affected. For cysts locations, single organ involvement was found in 94.4% of the children versus 5.6% with multi-organ localization. Despite control program, active transmission of echinococcosis still occurred in children and remains a major public health problem. The infection in younger population may have some features that need to be considered in the prevention and control programs in endemic areas.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Director of the Provincial Ambulatory Outreach Service (SIAAP), Marrakesh, Morocco, for their collaboration. The assistance of Mr. Mohamed Essarafy and comments of Dr. Anthony Grimason are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Unit, Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Regional Centre for Careers of Education and Training (CRMEF-Marrakech), P.O. Box 797, Avenue Mozdalifa, 40090, Marrakesh, Morocco

    Omar Amahmid & Youssef El Guamri

  2. Parasitology Unit, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Ecotoxicology and Sanitation (LHEA), Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, Marrakesh, Morocco

    Omar Amahmid & Khadija Bouhoum

  3. Department of Biology, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment and Quality (LABEQ), Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra, Morocco

    Youssef El Guamri & Driss Belghyti

  4. Regional Direction of Health Marrakesh-Safi, Marrakesh, Morocco

    Khalid Zenjari

  5. Service of Parasitic Diseases, Direction of Epidemiology and Diseases Control (DELM), Rabat, Morocco

    Souad Bouhout

  6. Service of Public Health and Epidemiological Surveillance, Regional Direction of Health, Marrakesh, Morocco

    Mohamed Ait Moh & Fatima Boraam

  7. Regional Laboratory of Epidemiological Diagnostic and Environmental Hygiene (LRDEHM), Marrakesh, Morocco

    Abdelaziz Ait Melloul & Hilal Benfaida

Authors
  1. Omar Amahmid
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  2. Youssef El Guamri
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  3. Khalid Zenjari
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  4. Souad Bouhout
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  5. Mohamed Ait Moh
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  6. Fatima Boraam
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  7. Abdelaziz Ait Melloul
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  8. Hilal Benfaida
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  9. Khadija Bouhoum
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  10. Driss Belghyti
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Correspondence to Omar Amahmid.

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Amahmid, O., El Guamri, Y., Zenjari, K. et al. The pattern of cystic echinococcosis in children in an endemic area in Morocco. J Parasit Dis 43, 209–214 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-018-01077-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-018-01077-0

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