Intestinal parasitoses in children living in malarious zones of Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria, intestinal parasitoses and malnutrition coexist and interact in people of malarious areas; it is required to know the magnitude of these diseases.

Objective: to identify the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children (aged 4–10 years) of malarious areas of Antioquia (northwestern Colombia), and to know the changes of parasites at days 8 and 30 after specific treatment.

Methodology: intestinal parasites surveys were applied before treatment (albendazole + secnidazole) and at days 8 and 30 after treatment. Examination of stools (direct and concentration) were used in single samples.

Results: at day 1, 80% of the children showed some pathogenic helminth, 39% had some pathogenic protozoan, and 35% had both helminths and protozoa. Specific prevalences at day 1 were as follows: Ascaris lumbricoides 43.5%, Trichuris trichiura 68.2%, Necator americanus 37.6%, Entamoeba histolytica, 15.3%, Giardia lamblia 21.2%. The intensity of infection was slight (1–2 crosses) for protozoan parasites and it was moderateintense for helminth parasites, namely: 84% for A. lumbricoides, 83% for T. trichiura and 50% for N. americanus. The 'net effect on protozoan prevalence' attributable to treatment, measured at day 8, was E. histolytica 50% and G. lamblia 71% (p < 0.05). The 'net effect on helminth burden' (NEHB) attributable to treatment (between days 1 and 8) was significant for A. lumbricoides and N. americanus. The NEHB of albendazole, measured at day 8, was 91% for A. lumbricoides, 27% for T. trichiura and 87% for N. americanus. Egg reduction was always significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Prevalence rates of intestinal parasites in Turbo and El Bagre, in children with malaria, aged 4–10 years, are still high and constitute a severe public health problem.