Levels of vitamin A and selenium of children with cystic echinococcosis in Aba Tibetan and Qiang and Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to review the levels of vitamin A and selenium in children with echinococcosis in Ganzi and Aba.

METHODS

Twenty-six children with cystic echinococcosis and 104 apparently healthy controls from the Aba and Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan province in China were recruited. The serum levels of selenium and vitamin A of the cases and controls were detected and stratified by sex and age.

RESULTS

The results showed that the ratio of boys to girls was 1:1.36. Compared with the healthy controls, the vitamin A serum levels of the cases significantly declined. The rate of selenium deficiency was high in the cases, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group. Additionally, the lower the vitamin A serum level, the higher the risk for developing echinococcosis.

CONCLUSIONS

To improve management strategies in children with cystic echinococcosis, or possibly to prevent the disease, children living in high-risk areas for cystic echinococcosis should be given supplemental vitamin A and encouraged to consume a vitamin A-rich diet containing paw-paw, carrot, palm oil, or fish. Children with vitamin A deficiency in high-risk areas should be screened for cystic echinococcosis.