Prevalence of intestinal parasite infections among 4- to 12-year-old children in Crato, Ceara State/ Prevalencia de parasitoses intestinais entre criancas de 4-12 anos no Crato, Estado do Ceara: um problema recorrente de saude publica

In this study, we estimated the frequency of intestinal parasites in 383 children in the Pinto Madeira neighborhood of Crato-Ceara State. A survey was conducted covering households with 4- to 12-year-old children, including interviews and coprological surveys using the Kato-Katz and Faust methods. An association was identified between intestinal parasitosis and sanitation, forms of use and availability of water. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba sp was demonstrated. The data also showed that the prevalence of helminths and protozoa was significantly higher for 4- to 5-year-old boys and 6- to 7-year-old girls, children of mothers with less education, living in households with poor conditions of water supply, hygiene and sanitation. These results suggest that investments in sanitary structure and the adoption of policies to improve family education could help significantly in reducing the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children.