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Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in schoolchildren from semi-rural areas of Ecuador II

Abstract:

The largest proportion of individuals affected by intestinal parasitosis corresponds to the child population, due to their immunological immaturity and little development of hygienic habits and the practice of playing with dirt. - Studies carried out in rural areas at the international level on the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children, report figures that vary between 30% and 90%. In the affected countries, including notably Ecuador, intestinal parasitic infections are closely related to the processes of economic and social development. Eighty-one schoolchildren from semi-rural areas (20%) met the diagnostic criteria for intestinal parasitosis. The Blastocystis sp. (10%), was the most commonly found parasitic species, in second place E. nana (3.7%) and in third place Entamoeba Complex (2.5%). Specifically, in the child population of semi-rural areas, no recent screening studies have been carried out in the Ecuadorian context and the consequences the COVID-19 pandemic could have had on the prevalence of these infections are unknown. An investigation was developed on the background and prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in schoolchildren from semi-rural areas of Ecuador in order to provide empirical information in this regard.