Clinical and epidemiological aspects of ascariasis

Objective. To study and characterize the incidence of ascariasis in the population of the Astrakhan Region for 2017–2021.

Materials and methods. The diagnosis of ascariasis was made on the basis of epidemiological anamnesis, clinical picture of the disease (complaints and symptoms) as well as laboratory examination of feces (coproovoscopic method) – detection of parasite eggs in the biological material of patients (feces).

Results. From 2017 to 2021, 91 cases of human infection with ascarids were registered in the Astrakhan region, of which the incidence rate among children was 54.9 % (50 persons). Ascariasis was registered directly in the city – 41.8 % (38 persons) and in the districts of the Astrakhan Region – 58.2 % (53 persons). Most of the patients – 86.8 % (79 persons) complained about the presence of certain symptoms of the disease: pain in the epigastric region – 87.3 % (children) and 59.5 % (adults), nausea – 73.4 % (58 persons) and hyporexia – 68.4 %. When addressing for medical aid, in addition to anamnesis of the disease, an epidemiological anamnesis was also clarified: 97.8 % (89 persons) did not observe the rules of personal hygiene – this group of patients ate unwashed fruit and/or berries – 83.1 % (74 persons), did not wash their hands before eating – 79.8 % (71 persons). Onychophagy was noted by 16.5 % (15 persons including 12 children). Geophagy occurred in 9.9 % (9 persons – all children). After diagnosing, all patients were prescribed drugs with pirantel – 91.2 % (83 persons) and albendazole – 8.8 % (8 persons).

Conclusions. Ascariasis is an urgent problem of domestic healthcare, especially for pediatricians. Ascariasis is widespread throughout the Astrakhan Region, being detected, to a greater extent, in residents of the districts of the Astrakhan Region, that can testify to the consumption of unwashed fruit or berries contaminated with ascarid eggs, as well as possible soil contamination. Typical complaints were pain in the epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hyporexia. Presumably, the main cause of the ascarid disease in residents of the Astrakhan Region could be the use of untreated wastewater and its sediments as organic fertilizers in collective and farm enterprises, as well as in individual households.