Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Anthropometric Assessments in Preschool Children in a Region of the Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Abstract

Introduction: Intestinal parasites are infections that affect the digestive system, and can also affect other organs and tissues, they are transmitted by the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of cysts or eggs, present in contaminated food and beverages. In Mexico they are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in pediatric ages. Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites, their socioeconomic impact and their effect on growth and development in children from a population of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Material and Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 589 children between 0-5 years of age, for 8 months, through medical examination, coproparasito-scopic studies and Méndez-Graffar questionnaire to their guardians. The EPI-INFOTM program, SPSS version 27.0 and EPIDAT 4.2 were used to perform the Chi2 and Student's t statistical tests, with a 95% confidence interval. Results: Of all the children studied, 81.49% had at least one parasitic agent, Blastocystis spp. (79%) the most prevalent. No significant difference was found between both sexes, but it was found in the age group, being the ages of 4-6 years the most parasitized in 100%. According to statistical tests, there is a direct relationship with parasitic load, development of nutritional alterations and socioeconomic conditions in which they grow. Conclusion: The community studied presented a high prevalence of these diseases associated with socioeconomic factors, which is why the implementation of prevention programs for these infections is insisted on.