Intestinal parasitosis, undernutrition and socio-environmental factors in schoolchildren from Clorinda Formosa, Argentina

E E OYHENART; ZONTA M L; G.T. NAVONE; COCIANCIC, P

Rev. Salud Pública

Univ. Nacional de Colombia

Lugar: Bogotá; Año: 2019 vol. 21 p. 224 - 231

0124-0064

Objective To evaluate intestinal parasitosis, undernutrition and socio-environmentalfactors in schoolchildren from Clorinda (Formosa, Argentina).Materials and Methods Serial fecal samples and anal swabs of 114 schoolchildren,canine feces and soil samples were analyzed. Body weight and height of 215 schoolchildrenwere measured and undernutrition was estimated according to the WorldHealth Organization criteria. Socio-environmental variables were assessed by meansof a semi-structured questionnaire.Results 78.1% of children were infected by at least one of the 12 species identified and70.8% had multiple parasitic infections. Blastocystis sp., Giardia lamblia and Enterobiusvermicularis were the most prevalent. Additionally, 17.5% of children were infected by atleast one geohelminth (e.g. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms). 64.3%of canine of canine feces were positive and six parasitic species were found; the mostfrequent were Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala and G. lamblia. Furthermore,37.5% of soil samples showed zoonotic parasites (i.e. Ascaris sp., Toxocara sp.).Finally, 10.0% of the children were undernourished and 85.7% of them had parasites. Therisk for parasitosis was higher in children that lived in houses with inadequate solid wastedisposal and whose parents were unemployed or had temporary jobs.Conclusions The lack of environmental sanitation, unstable employment of parentsand the presence of zoonotic species were the most relevant factors observed. Consequently,these conditions result in an increase of parasitic infections and negativelyinfluence the growth of children.