Resumen

AMARO C, Mariana I et al. INTESTINAL PARASITOSIS AND RISK FACTORS IN CHILDREN: URBAN AMBULATORY TIPE II, DR AGUSTÌN ZUBILLAGA. BARQUISIMETO - VENEZUELA. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2011, vol.74, n.2, pp.010-016. ISSN 0004-0649.

Introduction: The possible association of intestinal parasitism with poverty and insufficient environmental sanitation motivates the study of the prevalence of this fact in a poor neighborhood of Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Objective: To determine the frequency of intestinal parasitism and risk factors in children of 1 to 12 years of a poor zone of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, influence area of “Dr. Agustín Zubillaga” Type II Urban Ambulatory. Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, with a non probabilistic by convenience sample (114 children attending the outpatient clinic of the ambulatory center). An informed consent was obtained, an interview was performed and a fecal specimen was obtained for direct and concentrate analysis. Percentages, proportions, Chi square and t Student, with 95% statistical confidence interval were calculated. Results: 28,9% of the children were parasited, predominating in pre-school age (33,3%) without sex predominance. Blastocystis hominis (22,8%), Entamoeba histolytica (5,3%), Giardia lamblia (4,4%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (1,8%) were identified. Predominance of protozoan over helminthes could be due to the use of antihelminthics prescribed by pediatricians as prophylaxis and by parents as selfmedication. Endolimax nana was demonstrated in 11,4%, which suggests fecalism. Association between intestinal parasitism and overcrowding was found in 40,5% of cases, but not with other factors considered of risk, perhaps due to the homogeneity of these factors in this community. In conclusion, there is a considerable prevalence of intestinal parasitism at the expense of Blastocystis hominis, associated especially with overcrowding.

Palabras clave : intestinal parasitism; risk factors; Blastocystis hominis; Entamoeba histolytica; Giardia lamblia; Ascaris lumbricoides.