Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3421081 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 2009 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
Clonorchiasis is an emerging food-borne trematode infection in Vietnam. Due to the absence of cost-effective preventive measures its control largely relies on morbidity reduction by chemotherapy with praziquantel. We performed a comparative cost estimation of three different diagnostic and intervention approaches in areas of high and low prevalence of clonorchiasis in northern Vietnam in order to select more cost-effective chemotherapy. Our study confirmed that a questionnaire investigating the habit of eating raw, freshwater fish was a rapid, cost-effective and operationally feasible tool for identifying individuals at risk of clonorchiasis in both high-prevalence and low-prevalence areas. The cost of diagnosis and intervention per person and per true positive case was 20-fold higher in low-prevalence areas, regardless of the type of approach. Geographical mapping of high-risk areas prior to screening is, therefore, recommended to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the intervention activities.
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Authors
Aya Yajima, Dai Tran Cong, Dung Do Trung, Thach Dang Thi Cam, Antonio Montresor,