High occurrence of giardiasis in children living on a 'landless farm workers' settlement in Araras, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARYEnteric parasitosis remains an important public health problem in many areas around the world including in Brazil, and it is frequently associated with poverty and lack of sanitation facilities. Research carried out over the course of a year revealed that 96.6% (28/29) of children randomly selected from a 'landless farm workers' settlement in Araras, São Paulo, aged 4 -15 years, presented Giardia intestinalis cysts. After referral to the neighborhood Health Office, all the children received tinidazole, given as a single dose of 50 mg/kg and 12 months later, new fecal samples were collected and analyzed. Despite the low adherence to the study, a high percentage (64.3% -9/14) of the children remained positive for the parasite. This study showed a high positivity of giardiasis in child residents of the settlement, even after treatment; adults were not sensitized to the study and did not collected and/or deliver children fecal samples. The precarious living conditions are consistent with a high susceptibility to parasitic diseases, suggesting that the treatment of the infected individuals without identifying and eradicating the means of contamination is simply a palliative measure.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and associated factors among the elderly

“…Although they do not represent health problems, they reveal a deficiency in hygienic issues such as hand washing after using the toilet and before meals, contaminating food and water with fecal material, leaving the elderly susceptible to pathogens 5,24 .…”

“…Both measurements were performed in duplicate and the mean values were used in the analyzes. For analysis, BMI was categorized as underweight (BMI<22), normal weight (BMI of [22][23][24][25][26][27] and overweight (BMI>27Kg/m²) 8 .…”

Enteroparasitos Em Manipuladores De Merenda Escolar Em Cuité, Paraíba

“…A alta prevalência E. nana ,nas amostras fecais dos manipuladores, pode indicar deficientes medidas higiênicas ou ainda precariedade na qualidade da água e de saneamento básico 21,23 .…”

High Frequency of Enteroparasitoses in the Municipality of Oiapoque, Amapá State, Brazil, on the Border With French Guiana

“…A high number of these parasitosis is associated with places with poor sanitary hygiene and a lack of treated water and sewage, which facilitate the dissemination of eggs, cysts and larvae [2]. Additionally, the lack of public policies aimed at promoting changes in cultural habits and improving the socioeconomic conditions of the population favor the establishment of this disease class [3]. Intestinal infections caused by protozoa and helminth are estimated to afflict 3.5 billion people worldwide and cause illnesses in approximately 450 million people, with risks of serious public health problems in several countries, especially underdeveloped countries [4].…”