Prevalência de enteroparasitismo em crianças de comunidades ribeirinhas do Município de Coari, no médio Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil

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

doi:10.5123/S2176-62232010000400004

Authors

Francenilton Sampaio dos Santos Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia Campus Médio Solimões, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Coari, Amazonas, Brasil
Abel Santiago Muri Gama Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia Campus Médio Solimões, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Coari, Amazonas, Brasil
Alana Batista Fernandes Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia Campus Médio Solimões, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Coari, Amazonas, Brasil
José Dobles dos Dias Reis, Junior Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia Campus Médio Solimões, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Coari, Amazonas, Brasil
Jocilene Guimarães Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia Campus Médio Solimões, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Coari, Amazonas, Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5123/S2176-62232010000400004

Abstract

ABSTRACT

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 socio-environmental 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.