Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in children aged 0 to 10 years from a rural area in Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: Intestinal parasitosis is an infection of the digestive tract caused by protozoa and helminths, transmitted by contaminated water and food, contact with infected soil or from person to person. It represents a public health problem, with high prevalence in children, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Factors such as poverty, lack of hygiene and limited access to drinking water favor its spread. In Latin America, the prevalence ranges between 20-80%, with an impact on child development. In Ecuador, it mainly affects children due to immunological immaturity and poor sanitary conditions. The aim is to know the prevalence in the Tachina parish to reinforce control strategies, promoting hygiene, sanitation and deworming campaigns to reduce infection and improve child health. Methods: The study has a cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective approach of anonymized data descriptively analyzed in SPSS 20.7. Results: 445 children from 0 to 10 years old were analyzed, with greater representation of the 5–10-year-old group (55%). Parasitosis affected 69% of cases, predominating in the 5-10 age group (67%). Polyparasitism was more frequent (59%) than monoparasitism (41%). Protozoa were the most common parasites, with Entamoeba coli standing out (30%). Among helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent (59%). Conclusions: The results highlight the high parasitic load in children, with a predominance of polyparasitism, possibly due to inadequate hygiene habits or lack of access to drinking water. Therefore, it is recommended to reinforce education in personal hygiene and healthy habits in schools and communities