Introduction:

One of the main health issues affecting school-aged children is the presence of intestinal parasites. This situation is exacerbated by poor hygienic and sanitary conditions, poverty, overcrowding, and inadequate dietary and daily living habits.

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in school-aged children from various municipalities in Antioquia.

Methodology:

Between 2018 and 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a non-probabilistic convenience sampling approach. The presence of intestinal pathogens was determined through direct stool microscopy. Additionally, a survey was administered to assess the presence of risk factors associated with intestinal parasitosis.

Results:

A total of 805 stool samples were analyzed. The distribution of samples by municipality was as follows: Andes 17.51 % (141), Blanquizal 15.03% (121), Gómez Plata 12.42% (100), Guarne 9.56% (77), Jardín 23.85% (192), Palmitas 7.45% (60) and San Pedro 14.26% (114). The observed parasitic infection rates among children were: 52.17% (420) infected by a pathogen, 43.85% (353) with multiple intestinal pathogens. The prevalence of specific parasites found was as follows: Blastocystis spp 47.95% (386), Entamoeba complex 44.72% (360), Endolimax nana 29.06% (234), Entamoeba hartmanii 6.58% (53), Entamoeba histolytica 6.33% (51) Entamoeba coli 6.08% (49), Giardia intestinalis 3.85% (31), Cryptosporidium spp 1.73% (14) Iodamoeba butschlii 0.24% (2), and single cases of Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana y Ancilostomideos each with a prevalence of 0.12%. The prevalence of intestinal pathogens by municipality was as follows: Jardín 21.34% (89), Blanquizal 18.47% (77), Andes 17.74% (74) San Pedro 14.15% (59), Guarne 12.23% (51) Gómez Plata 9.69% (40), and Palmitas 6.71% (28). Bivariate analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between municipality and presence of pathogens (p=0.002). Diarrhea was the only symptom significantly associated with the presence of pathogens (p=0.002). Anal pruritus and underlying diseases were associated with the presence of Entamoeba histolytica (p<0.05). Consumption of raw meats was linked to the presence of the Entamoeba complex (p<0.05). Pet ownership was significantly associated with the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, and Ancilostomideos (p<0.05). Additionally, abdominal pain, vomiting, consumption of raw meat, and living with rodents were significantly associated with the presence of Endolimax nana (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

It is evident that intestinal parasites continue to be a public health problem, frequently affecting school-aged children. In this study, protozoa exhibited the highest prevalence rates, while helminths had lower prevalence, possibly due to deworming campaigns conducted in the department of Antioquia.