Volume 9 Number 2 August 1995
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DiscussionGiardia LambLia infection was generally found to be more prevalent in children than in adults (Tables I & 2). Among children of school population (Table I), those in their first decade of life were more affected. This is perhaps due to greater exposure to Giardia cysts because of less awareness of hygiene or due to gradual development of immunity with exposure that later reaches a protective level in young adults. The higher infoction rate in school children (9%) than in non- school children of the same age group (5-19 years) (4.3%) indicates that direct person-to-person transmission in non- hygienic situations a very important route of transmission. Infection rates reported here cannot represent the actual prevalence rate of giardiasis in Ethiopia as stool examination alone is not reliable to rule out infection of Giardia the cysts of which are excreted episodically (12). Also, since the studies were conducted at different times, prevalence rates may not be comparable by communities. However, some clues about risk factors and distribution can be deduced from the data generat. In all communities surveyed at different elevations, giardiasis seems to have no correlation with the altitude. It is prevalent at all elevations within the study ranges (380- 3000 meters above sea level). This suggests that risk factors such as crowding in poor hygienic situations and sanitations are more important than altitude and climatic conditions Table 2: G;an/;a lambl;a infection in Ethiopia by altitude. Table 2: Giardia lamblia infection in Ethiopia by altitude
in the transmission of giardia in Ethiopia. Giardiasis can cause diarrhoea, maldigestion and malabsorption of nutrients such as carbohydrates and vitamins A and BI2 (13). Thus, as the infection is more prevalent among children who may be affected mentally and physically, giardiasis should not be neglected. Improvement of personal hygiene, especially among children, is very essential in reducing transmission. Children do not only suffer the infection but also, by virtue of excreting large numbers of cysts, are important sources of infection as opposed to adults (6). |