Bancroftian filariasis in an endemic area of Brazil: differences between genders during puberty

• Main Authors: Cynthia Braga, Inês Dourado, Ricardo Ximenes, Janaína Miranda, Neal Alexander
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2005
• Subjects: Filariasis; Gender differences; Puberty; Risk factors; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/b9e9e3e302f440be9f384b355b62978d

Gender differences in susceptibility to infectious diseases have been observed in various studies. A survey was performed in a bancroftian filariasis endemic area in the city of Olinda, Brazil. All residents aged 5 years or older were examined by thick blood film. People aged 9 to 16 years were interviewed and also tested for filarial antigenaemia. Data were analyzed by contingency table methods and regression models. The risk of microfilaraemia for males was significantly higher. Among those aged 9 to 16 years, the analysis of gender and filariasis by age showed that boys from 15 to 16 years had a higher risk of infection than girls. No association was found between menarche and filariasis in girls. The data suggest that variations between gender in filariasis could result, at least in part, from an increase in susceptibility of men. This epidemiologic feature needs to be considered while formulating elimination plans.