Prevalence of Toxocara infection in schoolchildren from the Butantä region, Säo Paulo, Brazil

Visceral larva migrans syndrome by Toxocara affects mainly children between 2 and 5 years of age, it is generally asymptomatic, and the seroprevalence varies from 3 to 86 percent in different countries. A total of 399 schoolchildren from 14 public schools of the Butantä region, Säo Paulo city, Brazil, were evaluated by Toxocara serology (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Epidemiological data to the Toxocara infection obtained from a protocol were submitted to multiple logistic regression analysis for a risk profile definition. Blood was collected on filter paper by finger puncture, with all samples tested in duplicate. Considering titers > 1/160 as positive, the seroprevalence obtained was 38.8 percent. Among infected children, the mean age was 9.4 years, with a similar distribution between genders. A significant association was observed with the presence of onychophagia, residence with a dirty backyard, living in a slum, previous wheezing episodes, school attended, and family income (p < 0.05). All data, except "living in a slum", were considered to be determinant of a risk profile for the acquisition of Toxocara infection. A monthly income > 5 minimum salaries represented a protective factor, although of low relevance. Toxocara eggs were found in at least one of the soil samples obtained from five schools, with high prevalence of Toxocara infections, indicating the frequent soil contamination by this agent

Abordagem multiprofissional da desnutricao energetico-proteica em uma unidade basica de saude: relato de uma experiencia / Multi-professional approach of the primary malnutrition in a health care basic unit: report of an experience

Em nosso meio, predominam as formas leves de desnutricao energetico-proteica na faixa etaria das criancas menores de cinco anos. Desta forma, o atendimento as criancas desnutridas acaba sendo feito principalmente em ambulatorio, principalmente nas unidades basicas de saude, onde devem ser desenvolvidas estrategias para uma adequada recuperacao nutricional. O objetivo e descrever uma experiencia de atendimento multiprofissional no combate a desnutricao energetico-proteica em criancas menores de cinco anos de idade, numa unidade basica de saude. Discute-se a importancia do atendimento em equipe de saude, do conhecimento das condicoes reais de vida da familia, por visitas domiciliares, assim como, do fortalecimento do vinculo mae-filho e da participacao ativa da familia em todas as atividades programadas