Abstract

BackgroundIntestinal parasitic infections are widely distributed throughout the world and children are the most affected population. Day care centres are environments where children have proven to be more susceptible to acquiring IP.Methods and Principal FindingsA cross-sectional study was carried to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in stool samples among children who attend to a day care centre in an urban area of Matanzas city, Cuba, from March to June 2012. 104 children under five years old were included on the study after informed consent form was signed by parents or legal guardians. Three fresh faecal samples were collected from each child in different days and were examined by direct wet mount, formalin-ether, and Kato- Katz techniques. Data relating to demography, socioeconomic status, source of drinking water, and personal hygiene habits were also collected using a standardized questionnaire. In total, 71.1% of children harbored at least one type of intestinal parasite and 47 (45.2%) were infected by more than one species. Giardia duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. were the most common parasites found, with prevalence rates of 54.8% and 38.5% respectively.ConclusionsDespite public health campaigns, improvement in the level of education, and the availability of and access to medical services in Cuba infections by intestinal protozoan is high in this centre. Almost nothing is published regarding intestinal parasites in Matanzas province during the last 40 years so this work could also be the initial point to carry out other studies to clarify the IP status in this region.

Highlights

  • IntroductionIt is estimated that 3 billion people are infected with intestinal parasites (IP) and children are the most common affected population [2]

  • Intestinal parasitic infections are widely distributed throughout the world and have been identified as one of the most significant causes of illnesses and diseases among the disadvantaged population [1].It is estimated that 3 billion people are infected with intestinal parasites (IP) and children are the most common affected population [2]

  • Almost nothing is published regarding intestinal parasites in Matanzas province during the last 40 years so this work could be the initial point to carry out other studies to clarify the IP status in this region

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Summary

Introduction

It is estimated that 3 billion people are infected with intestinal parasites (IP) and children are the most common affected population [2] In this group intestinal parasites can have devastating consequences affecting intestinal absorption, nutrition, and childhood development. In Cuba, despite of the implementation of government initiatives to improve socioeconomic conditions, health, sanitation and water supplies [5], some parasitic infections, intestinal protozoa, are still important causes of morbidity. This is so in some high-risk groups, such as children attending day care, and preschool children in rural mountainous areas [6,7,8,9]. Day care centres are environments where children have proven to be more susceptible to acquiring IP

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