Exposure to Pesticides and Symptoms of Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Children under Five in the Offinso-North District

Abstract

Background: The suppression of the immune system by persistent exposure to organic pollutants can induce or exacerbate airway inflammation, which can be a predictor of respiratory infections. Objective: The study examined the association between exposure to pesticides and symptoms of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among children under five years in the Offinso North District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Methodology: The study population was derived from a population-based cross-sectional design, the Offinso North Farm Health Study (ONFAHS). Information on self-reported indicators to pesticide exposure was gathered with an interview-administered questionnaire. The residues of five organochlorine pesticides and one pyrethriod pesticide was assayed in urine collected from 100 children under five years by gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector. A generalized linear model with binomial distribution and log link function was used to assess the association between exposure indicators to pesticides and symptoms of respiratory infection. Results: The proportion of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), was 67.06% among all the children (0-4 yrs). ALRI was common among children ≤ 1 yr (37.14%). Border line significance was recorded between contact with contaminated surfaces (0.97-2.24), bad hygienic practices (0.98-2.33) and bad mouthing behaviour (0.92-4.14) and symptoms of ALRI in children. There was significance association between contact with contaminated surfaces (1.14-47.39) and bad mouthing (1.05-135.38) and symptoms of ALRI. No significant exposure-response association was observed between urine samples and ALRI. The mean residue of Lambda-cyhalothrin (3.25 μg/L; 0.66) was higher in children below the age of 1 yr and that of gamma-HCH was highest among children aged 2-4 yrs (3.16 μg/L; 0.95). Conclusion: Exposure to pesticides is associated with symptoms of acute lower respiratory infections in children under five years.