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
• Main Authors: Felix Reichert, Daniel Pilger, Angela Schuster, Hannah Lesshafft, Silas Guedes de Oliveira, Ralf Ignatius, Hermann Feldmeier
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004514; https://doaj.org/article/979e475e7a1746588e3dd6a189c4282a

BACKGROUND: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. METHODOLOGY/ PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: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. CONCLUSIONS/ SIGNIFICANCE: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.