Prevalencia de parásitos intestinales en niños de la ciudad de Mendoza, Argentina

Abstract

This descriptive epidemiological research studies the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 221 children attending school in Mendoza, Argentina, and living in an urban area with potable water and complete sanitary system. Samples of faeces were collected and kept in a sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin (SAF) solution during 7 days and anal mucus was collected by means of the modified Graham test during the same period of time. Samples were processed by means of the modified Telemann method and Kinyoun staining. Gauzes were put in 30 ml of 5%-formol solution. Results reveal an 80.5% prevalence of intestinal parasites, with values varying between 88% (age group from 5 to 10) and 63.8% (age group from 11 to 14). No significant differences were observed in the distribution by sex. A 37.6% of the positive group showed a unique species whereas the rest of the studied population showed parasite associations of up to 4 different genera. Blastocystis hominis, Giardia lamblia, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Dientamoeba fragilis, Chilomastix mesnilii, Enterobius vermicularis and Hymenolepis nana were identified, the latter being detected as from the age of 6 years. The study reveals a high prevalence of intestinal parasites in 1-to 14-year-old children. Although both appropriate potable water and sewer system are available, we conclude that the high prevalence of intestinal parasites is due to inappropriate hygienic habits of the population and that education for the prevention of health is therefore as important as appropriate sanitary conditions. © 2007 Sociedad Chilena de Parasitología. Organo Oficial de la Federación Latinoamericana de Parasitólogos.