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Prevalence of Antistreptolysin O in Mexican and Paraguayan Children *

1972; American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Volume: 21; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.4269/ajtmh.1972.21.345

1476-1645

R Golubjatnikov,

Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare

Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers of a random sample of 652 children of Huixquilucan, Mexico and of 407 children in a nation-wide survey of Paraguay were determined to obtain seroepidemiologic data concerning Group A streptococcal infections in these populations. Pre-school children in Paraguay acquire ASO more rapidly than similar cohorts in Huixquilucan. The mean ASO titers in the Mexican pre-school and school-age children remained below those of comparable Paraguayan groups. There were no differences between ASO titers of subjects residing in tropical and temperate areas of Paraguay, nor did the mean ASO titers of rural residents differ from those of the only large urban center of Paraguay, Asunción. Mexican children with five or more sibs had higher ASO titers than those with fewer sibs; this was particularly pronounced in school-age girls. Mexican children of blood group “O” tended to have higher ASO titers, but this difference was statistically not significant. Although 10- to 14-year-old Paraguayan and Mexican children had the highest prevalence of ASO titers above 128 Todd units, the highest mean titers were seen in the 15-to 17-year-old groups in both populations. These results suggest that high altitude, moderate climate, low level of sanitation, and crowded living conditions do not by themselves necessarily lead to a high prevalence of ASO in children.