Abstract

GIRALDO-OSPINA, Beatriz et al. ESTIMATE OF INTESTINAL PARASITES PREVALENCE IN INFANTS OF TWO COLOMBIAN COMMUNITIES. Biosalud [online]. 2015, vol.14, n.2, pp.19-28. ISSN 1657-9550.  https://doi.org/10.17151/biosa.2015.14.2.3.

Objective: To determine the presence of intestinal parasites in preschool and school age children in two communities of Risaralda Department (Colombia). Methodology: Cross-sectional study of prevalence estimation using a sample of 258 children selected in a nonrandom sorting through an induced demand activity. Fecal samples were taken from each child and were processed using Ritchie’s technique. The Graham method was applied to infants who presented anal itching. In addition, the parents filled out a survey to determine the clinical conditions related to intestinal parasitism. Results: The general prevalence of enteric parasites was 37.2%. Infections by a single or mixed infection were present in 28.7% and 2.3%of the population respectively. The pathogenic enteric parasites found were: Blastocystis hominis 16.7%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 8.9%, Giardia lamblia 7%, and Enterobius vermiculares 0.8%. Likewise, other non-pathogen enteric parasites were found and the infection was more frequent in males. Conclusion: General and specific prevalence for each organism approximately half of that found in other similar studies of simple characteristics was identified. The children evaluated present high risk factors for intestinal parasite infection and, therefore, to suffer the unfavorable consequences derived it.

Keywords : parasitic disease; epidemiology; impact on health; vulnerable populations.

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