Prevalencia de parásitos intestinales en niños que asisten al Templo Comedor Sagrado Corazón Teresa Benedicta de la Cruz, del barrio Vallejuelos, Medellín, 2007

Introduction: Human beings are exposed to the parasites present in their habitat. This situation poses a public health problem, especially in underdeveloped countries such as Colombia. The pediatric population is the most vulnerable, particularly that of communities in poor socioeconomic conditions. Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children attending a social aid institution in a poor neighborhood of Medellin, Colombia. Methods: In October and November 2007 a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out by means of direct and concentration stool examination in 58 out of 150 children attending the aforementioned institution. In addition, a survey was made of some socio-demographic variables. Results: 54 of the 58 children (93%) were infected by intestinal parasites. In 48 of them (88.9%) potentially pathogen parasites were present, namely: Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (46.6%), Giardia intestinalis (25.9%), Trichuris trichiura (25.9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (24.1%), and Enterobius vermicularis (8.6%). Twenty one children (38.8%) were infected with either 2 or 3 parasites. The only significant associations between socio-demographic variables and parasitic infections were as follows: overcrowding was associated with Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Blastocystis hominis, and the presence of pets (mostly dogs) in the house was associated with Enterobius vermicularis. Conclusion: Prevalence rate of intestinal parasites was higher in the studied group than in other communities, both Colombian and from other countries. Implications of this finding from the public health perspective are discussed.