Abstract
Enteric parasitic diseases pose a major health issue in Brazil. Children living in poorer areas are particularly more likely to become infected with parasites, as inadequate living conditions favor dissemination of such parasites. This work aimed to determine prevalence of parasites in stool samples obtained from children and teenagers supported by social services in the city of Sorocaba – São Paulo. Three stool samples were collected from each child enrolled in the study; samples were subjected to spontaneous sedimentation and then analyzed under a microscope. Children (or any close relatives for them responsible) answered a form regarding education level, eating habits, having had previous enteric parasitic diseases and presence of symptoms associated with such diseases. Prevalence of enteric parasitic diseases was 30%, these being caused by Entamoeba coli (20%), Giardia lamblia (2.5%), Iodamoeba butschlii (2.5%) and Urbanorum spp. (5%); no helminths were identified. While there is a likely contamination of children and teenagers via drinking water and food, prevalence of enteric parasitic diseases was lower when compared to other studies found in scientific literature, most likely due to local families being supported by social services.
Highlights
Enteric parasitic diseases are infections caused by protozoa or gut helminths and are of serious concern for public health agencies in Brazil (MOREIRA et al, 2019)
A prevalência de enteroparasitoses encontrada foi de 30%, sendo estas ocasionadas pelos protozoários Entamoeba coli (20%), Giardia lamblia (2,5%), Iodamoeba butschlii (2,5%) e Urbanorum spp. (5%), não sendo observada infecção por helmintos
Factors contributing to this issue include lack of basic sanitation in several regions, tropical climate throughout most of Brazil which favors parasite proliferation and low income of families living in areas of high parasite prevalence (FERREIRA; LALA; MONTEIRO, 2006; FERRAZ et al, 2014)
Summary
Enteric parasitic diseases are infections caused by protozoa or gut helminths and are of serious concern for public health agencies in Brazil (MOREIRA et al, 2019). Factors contributing to this issue include lack of basic sanitation in several regions, tropical climate throughout most of Brazil which favors parasite proliferation and low income of families living in areas of high parasite prevalence (FERREIRA; LALA; MONTEIRO, 2006; FERRAZ et al, 2014). Areas of low social income usually lack proper readily available medical assistance and basic sanitation; high prevalence of reservoirs and vectors favor contamination of water and food (BIANCHINI et al, 2015)
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