TABLE 2.
Characteristics of study participants including proxy variables for parasitic infections (n = 218)
| Variables | N | % |
|---|---|---|
| Age groups in years | ||
| 18–25 | 37 | 17.5 |
| 25–29 | 56 | 26.4 |
| 30–39 | 74 | 34.9 |
| 40+ | 45 | 21.2 |
| Gender | ||
| Male | 30 | 13.8 |
| Female | 188 | 86.2 |
| Province | ||
| Cape Town | 18 | 8.3 |
| Eastern cape | 193 | 88.5 |
| Others | 7 | 3.2 |
| Total IgE | ||
| Low (<70 kU/L) | 78 | 35.8 |
| High (>70 kU/L) | 140 | 64.2 |
| Eosinophils | ||
| Low (<0.35 cells/ml) | 176 | 80.7 |
| High (>0.35 cells/ml) | 42 | 19.3 |
| Ascaris IgE | ||
| Low (<0.35 kU/L) | 144 | 66.1 |
| High (≥0.35 kU/L) | 74 | 33.9 |
| Trichuris eggs | ||
| Yes | 48 | 24.8 |
| No | 152 | 75.2 |
| Ascaris eggs | ||
| Yes | 49 | 24.1 |
| No | 154 | 75.9 |
| Asthma | ||
| Yes | 37 | 17.5 |
| No | 175 | 82.5 |
| Rhinitis | ||
| Yes | 116 | 54.7 |
| No | 96 | 45.3 |
| IgE atopy | ||
| Yes | 87 | 39.9 |
| No | 131 | 60.1 |
| Food allergy | ||
| Yes | 25 | 11.5 |
| No | 193 | 88.5 |
Subtotals are not always equal due to some missing data.
Abbreviation: IgE, immunoglobulin E.