Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hookworm-Related Cutaneous Larva Migrans (HrCLM) in a Resource-Poor Community in Manaus, Brazil

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 10; no. 3; p. e0004514
• Main Authors: Reichert, Felix, Pilger, Daniel, Schuster, Angela, Lesshafft, Hannah, Guedes de Oliveira, Silas, Ignatius, Ralf, Feldmeier, Hermann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 24-03-2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aging; Analysis; Biology and Life Sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Data collection; Diagnosis; Disease; Dogs; Epidemiology; Female; Hookworm Infections - complications; Hookworm Infections - epidemiology; Humans; Infant; Infrastructure; Larva Migrans - epidemiology; Larva Migrans - parasitology; Low income groups; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; People and Places; Population; Poverty; Prevalence; Public health; Risk Factors; Roundworm infections; Sewage disposal; Shoes; Skin diseases; Social Sciences; Studies; Tropical diseases; Young Adult; Brazil; Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus; Brazil, Amazonas
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004514

Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (HrCLM) is a neglected tropical skin disease associated with significant clinical pathology. Little knowledge exists about prevalence and risk factors of HrCLM in endemic regions.
To understand the epidemiology of HrCLM in Amazonia, we conducted a cross-sectional study in a resource-poor township in Manaus, Brazil. HrCLM was diagnosed in 8.2% (95% CI, 6.3-10.1%) of the study population (N = 806) with a peak prevalence of 18.2% (95% CI, 9.3-27.1%) in children aged 10-14. Most of the tracks (62.4%) were located on the feet, and 10.6% were superinfected. HrCLM was associated independently with age under 15, male sex, presence of animal faeces on the compound, walking barefoot on sandy ground and poverty.
HrCLM is common in resource-poor communities in Amazonia and is related to poverty. To reduce the disease burden caused by HrCLM, living conditions have to be improved.