[Prevalence of giardiasis and intestinal parasites in pre-school children from homes being attended as part of a state programme in Armenia, Colombia].
OBJECTIVE
Determining the prevalence of giardiasis and intestinal parasitism in pre-school children from the Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF).


METHODS
Three serial faecal samples were collected from 328 children following informed consent from their legal guardians. Microscopic and macroscopic tests were made using 1% Lugol, 0.83% saline solution, saline-eosin solution and Kato Katz and Ritchie's test as a confirming test. Positive samples were preserved in saline formol solution.


RESULTS
Pathogen parasites had the following prevalence frequencies: 2.4% for Ascaris lumbricoides, 0.6% for Hymenolepsis nana, 2.1% for Trichuris trichura, 6.1% for Blastocystis hominis and 13% for Giardia lamblia.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this work showed low helminth frequency compared to that for protozoa; control strategies using single doses of Albendazol are therefore not useful. The most prevalent pathogen parasite was Giardia lamblia in children from the ICBF in Armenia. Periodic surveillance of parasites in children is thereby recommended. The prevalence of Giardia lamblia was not statistically related to the children's nutritional state. Most Giardia-infected children were asymptomatic.
Giraldo-Gómez
Jorge M
JM
Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad del Quindío, Colombia, Sur América. gamaloque@yahoo.es
Lora
Fabiana
F
Henao
Luz H
LH
Mejía
Shirley
S
Gómez-Marín
Jorge E
JE
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence