Prevalence of enteroparasitoses in children enrolled in a municipal day care center of São José dos Campos in the neighborhood of Buquirinha

Abstract

Parasitic diseases represent a major public health problem, affecting people of all ages, but do not arouse medical investigative interest. Children are the most affected due to poor hygiene and poor health education. This work aims to analyze the prevalence of parasitosis in children, correlating it with socioeconomic data. Cross-sectional study, carried out in a rural daycare center in the municipality of São José dos Campos, located in the Paraíba Valley, covering children enrolled from 1 to 6 years old regardless of sex. Totaling 57 children; 5% positive for Giardia duodenalis. It is concluded that although the neighborhood has rural characteristics, the number of positive tests can be masked due to the routine prescription and self-medication of antiparasitic drugs.