Artigo Produção Nacional

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in children from riverine communities in the Municipality of Coari, on the Middle Solimões River, Amazonas, Brazil

2010; Volume: 1; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

ISSN

2176-6223

Autores

Francenilton Sampaio dos Santos, Abel Santiago Muri Gama, Alana Batista Fernandes, José Dobles dos Dias Reis, Jocilene Guimarães,

Tópico(s)

Parasites and Host Interactions

Resumo

Few studies have determined the prevalence of intestinal parasites along rivers in the Brazilian Amazon, especially in pediatric populations. Therefore, we conducted a coproparasitological survey of a group of 200 children in riverine communities in Coari, on the Middle Solimoes River, in the Amazonas State, Brazil. The results of the study show an 83% prevalence of infection, in which parasitism by the species Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common. The socioenvironmental factors related to intestinal parasitic infection that were statistically significant include household income and water source variables (p < 0.05 for family income), which suggests increased prevalence may be related to the poor economic and sanitary conditions in these riverine communities. We conclude that the high rate of intestinal parasites in this pediatric population, which is associated with poor basic sanitary conditions and certain inappropriate habits, represents a troubling situation in public health.

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