Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among children from a shanty town in Tucuman, Argentina
Tropical Biomedicine
; : 210-215, 2015.
Article
in English
| WPRIM (Western Pacific)
| ID: wpr-630446
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
A parasitological survey was conducted in children living in a poor area next to a drainage channel, in Tucumán province, Argentina. Stool specimens from 115 children were collected and samples were analyzed by direct microscopy examination and concentration techniques. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasites infection was high (78.3%) and Blastocystis hominis was the most frequent protozoan parasite found (68.9%) followed by Giardia intestinalis (33.3%), Entamoeba coli (24.4%), Endolimax nana (12.2%), Chilomastix mesnili (5.6%) and Iodamoeba bütschlii (2.2%). Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent intestinal helminth, with an infection frequency of 38.9%, followed by Trichuris trichiura (13.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (13.3%), Hymenolepis nana (7.8%) and Enterobius vermicularis (3.3%). Multiple parasitic infections were also high, affecting 71.1% of infected population. These results indicate that sanitary policies, including health care and sanitary education have been inadequate for the control of intestinal parasitism in this high-risk population. Implementation of sanitation programs is a basic need and a joint collaboration between public servant and health professionals should be a priority.
Full text:
Available
Health context:
Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas
/
SDG3 - Health and Well-Being
/
Neglected Diseases
Health problem:
Goal 3 Human resources for health
/
Target 3.9: Reduce the amount of deaths produced by dangerous chemicals and the pollution of the air, water and soil
/
Zoonoses
Database:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Type of study:
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Argentina
Language:
English
Journal:
Tropical Biomedicine
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article