Persistence of intestinal parasitic infections during the national de-worming campaign in schoolchildren of northwestern Mexico: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Intestinal parasitism remains a public health challenge in northwestern Mexico even when a twice yearly single dose of albendazole (400 mg) is administered to schoolchildren. We aimed to determine the current prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in schoolchildren of northwestern Mexico.


METHODS
The Faust and Kato Katz techniques were used to detect and identify the intestinal parasite species. One thousand two hundred and seventy eight children from 12 public schools were invited to participate in this study; 312 children participated in September 2003.


RESULTS
Sixty eight percent of the subjects had intestinal parasites, 63% had protozoan infections, and 29%, 16% and 10% were infected withGiardia duodenalis,Hymenolepsisnana, andEntamoebahistolytica/dispar/moshkovskiirespectively. Fifty children excreted eggs ofHymenolepsis nana.


CONCLUSIONS
Educational strategies should be considered to support the national de-worming campaign, because albendazole alone will not sufficiently improve the health conditions of vulnerable populations.
Department of Public Nutrition and Health, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Carretera a la Victoria Km 0.6, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Luis
L
Quihui-Cota
Department of Public Nutrition and Health, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Carretera a la Victoria Km 0.6, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Gloria Guadalupe
GG
Morales-Figueroa
Intestinal parasitic infections; albendazole; de-worming campaign; northwestern Mexico; schoolchildren