Enteroparasitosis among primary school children in the community of Pepa de Huso

Abstract

Enteroparasitosis refers to infections of the gastrointestinal tract, which pose a public health problem by affecting urban and rural communities with unfavorable socio-environmental conditions and poor hygiene practices, facilitating the rapid transmission of parasites within the body. In Manabí, Ecuador, this problem is common due to environmental factors. This research aims to determine the incidence of enteroparasitosis, as well as its socio-environmental determinants, sanitation, and hygiene, among schoolchildren in the Pepa de Huso community. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 30 children aged 6 to 12 years, who underwent a stool examination for parasites and completed a sociodemographic survey. Of the 30 children studied, 17 tested positive for enteroparasitosis, registering a high prevalence of infection. Four species were identified: Entamoeba histolytica (58.83%), Entamoeba coli (29.41%), Hymenolepis nana (5.88%), and Giardia lamblia (5.88%), with cysts predominating over eggs. It was established that unfavorable factors such as walking barefoot and inadequate handwashing promote the spread of enteroparasitosis, suggesting the urgent need to establish appropriate measures in rural communities for the prevention of gastrointestinal infections caused by parasites.