ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of intestinal parasites in 3 to 6-year-old children from daycare centers maintained by the municipal government of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Coproparasitological tests performed in 472 children have shown that 24.6% of them had some type of parasites, 6.6% of the children having more than one type. Among protozoa, Entamoeba coli (14.0%) and G. duodenalis (9.5%) were the most prevalent, whereas Ascaris lumbricoides (3.0%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.1%) were the most frequent among the helminths. Thus, we can observe that intestinal parasites still represent a serious public health problem in Belo Horizonte, especially among children and in areas where the socioeconomic conditions are less favorable.
Subject(s)
Child Day Care Centers/statistics & numerical data , Helminthiasis/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Protozoan Infections/epidemiology , Brazil/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Feces/parasitology , Helminthiasis/diagnosis , Humans , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis , Prevalence , Protozoan Infections/diagnosis , Public SectorABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of intestinal parasites in 3 to 6-year-old children from daycare centers maintained by the municipal government of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Coproparasitological tests performed in 472 children have shown that 24.6 percent of them had some type of parasites, 6.6 percent of the children having more than one type. Among protozoa, Entamoeba coli (14.0 percent) and G. duodenalis (9.5 percent) were the most prevalent, whereas Ascaris lumbricoides (3.0 percent) and Trichuris trichiura (1.1 percent) were the most frequent among the helminths. Thus, we can observe that intestinal parasites still represent a serious public health problem in Belo Horizonte, especially among children and in areas where the socioeconomic conditions are less favorable.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a ocorrência de parasitos intestinais em crianças de 3 a 6 anos de idade, oriundas de creches mantidas pela Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Exames coproparasitológicos realizados em 472 crianças demonstraram que 24,6 por cento apresentavam algum tipo de parasitose, sendo que 6,6 por cento apresentavam mais de um parasito. Entre os protozoários, Entamoeba coli (14,0 por cento) e G. duodenalis (9,5 por cento) foram os mais prevalentes, enquanto Ascaris lumbricoides (3,0 por cento) e Trichuris trichiura (1,1 por cento) foram os mais encontrados entre os helmintos. Desta forma, observa-se que as parasitoses intestinais ainda são um problema de saúde pública em Belo Horizonte, principalmente entre a população infantil e em áreas onde as condições sócio-econômicas são menos favoráveis.
