Ocorrência de enteroparasitoses na população de um bairro da cidade de Cândido Mota-SP

Resumo (EN)

Objective – To verify the incidence of intestinal parasitoses in the population of a neighbourhood in the city of Cândido Mota - SP, and the possibility of association between parasitosis conditions and sanitation and socioeconomic conditions. Intestinal parasitoses are considered a public health problem, especially in areas where basic sanitation conditions, personal hygiene and educational level of the individual are precarious, which may favour transmission. Methods – The collections were made in residences and the faeces were analysed through Hoffmann etal.14 and Faust etal.15,methods, and the socioeconomic level was investigated through questionnaires, answered by the person responsible for the household. Results – A total of 177 samples were analysed and 35% of them were positive for one or more types of parasites, and the most commonly found were: Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis,Trichuris trichiura, with one case of biparasitism (Entamoeba coli with Ancylostomidae) and the youngest age range was the most affected. Of the studied population 69% claimed not to have or have very little knowledge of enteroparasitoses. Conclusion – Most of the population living in that neighbourhood consisted of low-income, large families living in small houses, showing precarious personal, environmental and residential hygiene, and little knowledge of enteroparasitoses. Therefore, it is essential to create awareness regarding the main forms of transmission and prophylaxis of enteroparasitoses, aiming to reduce the present rates, emphasizing school work whicher stimulates environmental and presonal hygiene habits.