Distribution and harmfulness of human thelaziasis in mainland of China

Objectives To summarize and analyze the data of distribution and harmfulness of thelaziasis,one of the rare parasitic diseases.in the mainland of China so as to propose control measures to prevent the infection.Methods Information about thelaziasis reported in various areas of China was collected from do mestic medical books.iournals and monograph published from 1917 to 2009.Then.the epidemic factors and harmfulness of this disease were analyzed.Results The distribution of human thelaziasis covered 25 provinces(municipalities or autonomous regions).The most cases were found in 7 provinces,i.e.Hubei,Jiangsu,Shandong,Henan,Anhui,Yunnan and Sichuan,and many in 18 provinces(municipalities or autonomous regions)including Hebei,Shanxi and Beijing.The youngest patient was at the age of 3 months old,the oldest at 88 years old.Male cases were more than female.and the cases in farmlands were more than those in cities.The infection rates from high to low were pre-school children(47.06%),farmers(37.97%),students(4.28%),factory workers(4.20%),cadres(2.67%),and residents(1.60%).The infection rates between various occupations showed significant difierence.Thle cases were often reported from May to November.and most focused from June to September.The disease courses were quite difierent lasting from 1 day to 180 days.and most of them from 1 day to 10 days(65.80%).The worros parasitized in the patients'eyes causing many symptoms and signs such as feeling foreign body in eyes,photophobia,tearing etc..The most serious cases lost their sight due to pathological changes of corneas.Conclusion Thelaziasis distributed at most provinces or regions in mainland of China.The cases were detected as a diflusion pattern with exception focusing pattern in some provinces.The population at various ages was all sensitive to this disease causing various illnesses and in juries in eyes.The children and farmers were at high risk of infection.So much attention should be paid to the control and health education of this disease.Also very important measures should be implemented including killing sick dogs and cats,promoting flies control,prohibiting the contact with the animals such as sick dogs and cats 80 as to reduce or eliminate human infection. Key words: Mainland of China ;  Human thelaziasis ;  Distribution and harmfulness ;