Algunos aspectos epidemiológicos de las infecciones por enterobius vermicularis en pacientes atendidos en consultorios de atención primaria del sector norte de Santiago 1995 / Some epidemiological aspects of enterobius vermicularis infections in patients attending at primary care centers of north section at Santiago, Chile 1995

ABSTRACT

During 1995, we examined 2,666 Graham's tests (five perianal swabs with adhesive cellulose tape) prescribed to ambulatory patients attended in 14 public outpatient clinics and four hospitals from the north section of Santiago. The infection rates found by age groups were the following: 6,1 percent in infants (< 2 years old), 20,9 percent in pre-schoolchildren (2 < 6 years old), 35,2 percent in elementary schoolchildren (6 < 15 years old) and 15,2 percent in adults (> 15 years old). Similar percentages of E. vermicularis infections were observed in females and males patients. Frequency of infection in each month of the year varied between 17,4 and 26,8 percent, with no seasonal variation. This study and previous surveys are stressing that E. vermicularis is the most frequent helminthic agent found in Chile, specially in elementary school children.