PREVALENCE OF ENTERIC PARASITIC DISEASES IN CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS ATTENDED BY SOCIAL SERVICES IN SOROCABA – SP

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.