Abstract

CAZORLA, DALMIRO J; ACOSTA, MARÍA E; ZARRAGA, ANAVELÍN  and  MORALES, PEDRO. CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF ENTEROBIASIS IN PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM TARATARA, FALCON STATE, VENEZUELA. Parasitol. latinoam. [online]. 2006, vol.61, n.1-2, pp. 43-53. ISSN 0717-7712.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-77122006000100007.

Between July and November 2004, a survey was conducted in order to investigate the clinical and epidemiological profiles of enterobiasis in 100 preschool (2-5 years) and primary school (6-12 years) aged children, from a rural village in north western semiarid region, Falcon state, Venezuela. Symptoms associated to oxiuriasis, including anal pruritus, perianal lesions, bruxism, enuresis, as well as children behaviours (finger sucking, hand washing, etc.), were determined by means of clinical examination and anamnesis. The Graham technique (perianal swabs with an adhesive cellulose tape) was used to perform the parasitological diagnosis. The overall prevalence was high (45%). There was no difference in the prevalence between sexes (x²= 0, 0016; p= 0,968) or ages (x²= 0,087; p= 0,769). Anal pruritus was the most common clinical finding and the only one significantly associated with enterobiasis, being detected in 33% of in infected children and in 24% of non parasitized ones. Graffar analysis revealed that the majority of children belong to the poorer socioeconomic strata: IV (77, 6%) and V (17, 2%). The following risk factors appeared to be significantly related to transmission and endemic maintenance of enterobiasis: pet playing (OR= 3,90), overcrowding (OR= 2,4), mother's low level education (OR= 7,88) and non-potable water consuming (OR= 1,01). Aerosol, inhalation and retroinfection dissemination, instead of via hand-anus-mouth, should be playing a relevant role in the transmission of Enterobius vermicularis among children

Keywords : Enterobiasis; epidemiology; preschool; schoolchildren; Venezuela.