PREVALENCE OF ENTEROPARASITOSIS AND PREDISPOSING FACTORS IN SCHOOL CHILDREN OF COTOCA, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA, 2023

https://doi.org/10.56274/rcs.2024.3.1.36

Abstract

Introduction. The enteroparasitosis play an important role in public health and are one of the most important medical problems, constituting one of the main causes of morbidity and student absenteeism. Objective. This project aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their consequences in school-age children in the municipality of Cotoca, Santa Cruz-Bolivia, between September and December 2023, with the intention of understanding the condition and the disease of the local community will be collected samples in three rural schools belonging to the department of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Material and Method. This epidemiological study carried out laboratory diagnosis. Analysis of the collection of fecal samples to use an effective treatment that affects this community. The project is an observational, descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional study, allows obtaining variables where the collection data was provided through surveys, which set inclusion and exclusion criteria for the processing of analysis and information.  Results. In the study conducted in students of the "Damian Añez Callau" and "Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre" Educational Unit "Morning and Afternoon Shift", it was found that 48.3% of the 348 students analyzed had enteroparasitosis, with Blastocystis hominis being the most common parasite (20.7%). In addition, other parasites were identified, such as Entamoeba coli, Giardia lamblia, Iodamoeba butschliiy and Hymenolepis nana. Multiparasitism was observed in 42 students. The analysis revealed risk factors associated with the prevalence of entoparasitosis highlighting the need for specific interventions to reduce the parasitic burden in this population.