Infecciones parasitarias intestinales en niños de 5 a 9 años en la parroquia Cunchibamba del cantón Ambato

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections mainly affect school-age children, it is very common in underdeveloped countries and poor communities. Among the main symptoms are decreased desire to eat, discomfort in the abdominal area, problems in the digestion process, episodes of diarrhea and difficulties in the absorption of nutrients, which can result in retarded development and growth of children. The objective of the research was to determine the relationship between parasitism with hemoglobin levels and body mass index in children from 5 to 9 years old in the Cunchibamba parish of Canton Ambato. In order to obtain the hemoglobin levels 76 blood samples were analyzed in of each child and 76 stool samples to identify parasites using the Faust or flotation technique. In addition, weight and height anthropometric data were taken to calculate the BMI. It was found that 77.6% of the population had parasites, 41% of them presented monoparasitosis and 59% had polyparasitosis. The study reveals that 99.1% of the parasites were Protozoa and 0.9% Helminths. Among the parasites that were identified are Blastocystis spp. with 41%, Entamoeba coli in 22%, followed by Endolimax nana in 20% and Giardia lamblia in 7%. The Entamoeba Complex, Chilomastix mesnili and Iodamoeba butschlii were also present, although to a lesser extent, with percentages of 6%, 3% and 1% respectively. Regarding Helminths, Hymenolepis nana eggs were identified in 1%. It was not possible to establish a relationship between the presence of parasites with the BMI and the presence of parasites with the hemoglobin values.