Analysis of the socioeconomic profile and prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in school-age children in city of Minas Gerais State

• Autor(a) principal: Barbosa, Júlia Amaral
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Alvim, Mariana Macedo, Oliveira, Michele Miguel de, Siqueira, Raquel de Aquino, Dias, Thais Resende, Garcia, Patrícia Guedes
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: HU Revista (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufjf.br/index.php/hurevista/article/view/13902
• topic: Parasite. Sanitation. Children. Prevalence.; Parasita. Saneamento. Crianças. Prevalência.

The enteroparasitoses are relevant causes of health damage, being frequent mainly in children of school age. Basic sanitation, hygiene and socioeconomic level are determining factors for the transmission of intestinal parasitoses. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitoses in school - age children, to characterize the socioeconomic and housing profile of the population and to analyze the profile of parasites in the municipality of Rio Preto/MG. Descriptive and cross - sectional study analyzed samples from 79 children aged 4 to 7 years old at a municipal school in Rio Preto/MG. Fecal samples were collected by Paratest ® Formalin 5 for egg and helminth larvae and protozoan cysts. The material was evaluated according to its morphological characteristics through the microscopic analysis of the sediment by four observers. The mean age was 5.6 years (± 1.1), of which 51.9% were female. The prevalence of parasitoses was 11.4% and the prevalent protozoa were Giardia lamblia, Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli. It was verified that 69.6% of the houses had a supply of treated water; 65.8% had a sewage network; 85.0% consumed filtered, mineral or chlorinated water at home; and 92.5% reported washing hands before meals and after using the toilet. The prevalence of parasitoses in the children participating in the study was considered low and the protozoa found were Giardia lamblia, Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli. Despite the low prevalence found, parasitological studies are considered of extreme importance for the knowledge of the health conditions of the population, aiming at the implementation of education, health guidance and prevention actions.