Abstract

RODRIGUEZ-SAENZ, Ana Yervid. Risk factors for intestinal parasites in children enrolled in a school in the municipality of Soracá - Boyacá. Univ. Salud [online]. 2015, vol.17, n.1, pp.112-120. ISSN 0124-7107.

Introduction: Intestinal parasitism is an infection caused by protozoa or helminthes. These intestinal parasites are at the present time a social health problem, affecting developed and developing countries. Objective: The study aimed to identify risk factors and intestinal parasites in school children in an educational institution in the municipality of Soracá in Boyaca. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, in which 85 schools agreed to participate with the prior written informed consent from their parents. The risk factors were assessed with the help of a survey which looked at questions such as the origin of drinking water, coexistence with animals and sanitary hygiene habits. A laboratory analysis for microscopic and macroscopic direct examination was made at the 85 stool samples as well as the formalin-ether concentration technique. To establish the nutritional status, an anthropometric evaluation was conducted. Results: The main risk factors found were: the non-use of drinking water for preparing food, walking barefoot, having contact with soil and the coexistence with pets. Parasite prevalence was 78%; pathogens: Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar 28%, Giardia intestinalis 11%, Ascaris lumbricoides 4%, Trichuris trichiura 2% and Himenolepis nana 1%. According to the nutritional status, it was found that 86% of schoolchildren have malnutrition, 8.2% presented stunting, 5.8% presented risk of stunting, 12% presented thinness and 2% presented risk of thinness. Conclusions: Risk factors of importance in the epidemiology of infections caused by intestinal parasites were presented. The rate of intestinal helminth parasites was low, while it was high for protozoal.

Keywords : Intestinal parasites; prevalence; risk factors; nutritional status.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )