Prevalence of schistosome induced cercarial dermatitis in north of Iran

ObjectiveTo investigate the level of people's infection to cecarial dermatitis in Mazandaran Province (north of Iran), where is susceptible to this disease due to Mazandaran's climate.MethodsThe present descriptive study is a cross sectional one and was done during 2010–2011. The sample and population were 2310 people, randomly chosen in 77 clusters from 4 towns, 30 people in each cluster on average. The survey form was given to people house-by-house and the clinical observation of the positive cases were recorded. The related medicine (calamin ointment) prevention methods were prescribed by the doctors of the research team and freely given to the infected patients. SPSS was applied to analyze the groups of age, sex, job and the part of the body infected.ResultsAmong the 2310 population studied, 139 of them (6.1%) were infected to cecarial dermatitis. Among the 139 people who had cecarial dermatitis, there was a significant difference in the amounts related to the groups of job, age and the part of body infected. Farmers were infected to this disease more than other vocations 74 (53.2%); people between 40–49 years were infected to cecarial dermatitis more than other age groups 38 (27.3%); leg was the most vulnerable bodypart 112 (80.6%).ConclusionsIt can be concluded that since this farmers and 40–49 years group are more exposed to mud and dirty water, these people are more infected to cecarial dermatitis. Close cooperation among health and environment authorities should be carried out 40–49 years, to control this disease 40–49 years.