Enteroparasitoses em escolares da rede pública em um município da região noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are caused by protozoa and / or helminths , which are a public health problem . Children are the group most vulnerable to these infections due to greater exposure to infectious agents and immature immune system , which may cause damage to the physical and intellectual development of these . The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of parasitic infections in schoolchildren from municipal Palm Missions - RS and possible factors associated with parasitism . After delivery of the material to collect feces structured to parents or guardians in order to obtain information about the socioeconomic conditions of the family and knowledge about parasites questionnaire, and also educational material about the main intestinal parasites was applied . Stool samples were analyzed using techniques HPJ ( Hoffmam , Pons and Janer ) , Faust and Ritchie . Of the 209 samples , 124 ( 59.3 % ) were positive for some kind of parasite . Evaluating by region , 126 schools in the urban area were analyzed , 60.3 % were positive and 83 students from rural areas , of which , 57.8 % were positive . Among the helminths , the most frequent was Ascaris lumbricoides ( 33 % ) . Among the highlights were protozoa Entamoeba coli ( 21 % ) and Giardia lamblia ( 15.3% ) . Regarding socioeconomic data , family income , age and education of the mother had relationship with positivity . The positivity rate reflects the social and economic conditions they live in these populations as well as the lack of information about these diseases , which underline the importance of health education activities .