title: [Prevalence and intensity of infection by soil-transmitted helminths and prevalence of malaria among schoolchildren in El Salvador].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  El Salvador does not have recent data on the prevalence of infection with soil-transmitted helminths among children aged under 15 years of age. As one of the countries in the Americas that reports few malaria cases, eradication of this disease from El Salvador is considered to be feasible.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and intensity of infection by soil-transmitted helminths, as well as the prevalence of Plasmodium spp. in schoolchildren aged 8-10.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in each of the five eco-epidemiological zones of the country (coastal plain, central basin, volcanic range, coastal range and mountain zone). In all 1,325 students we studied the presence of geohelminthiasis, with 152 of them also being tested for malaria. The Kato-Katz technique was used to detect geohelminths while diagnosis of malaria was performed using the rapid diagnostic test, microscopy and polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of geohelminthiasis was 7.9% (95%CI 6.6-9.5%). Values for the five eco-epidemiological zones were as follows: coastal plain, 14.9% (95%CI 10.9-19.7%); central plateau, 9.4% (95%CI 6.5-13.3%); volcanic range, 6.6% (95%CI 4.2-10.5%); coastal range, 5.9% (95%CI 3.8-9.4%), and mountain zone, 2.6% (95%CI 1.4-5.7%). The overall rate of high intensity infection with any of the geohelminth species was 0.3%. No schoolchildren were found infected with Plasmodium spp. by any of the three diagnostic techniques used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of geohelminths was low and Trichuris trichiura was the predominant species. Intensity of infection with any of the species of geohelminths was light (<1%). The risk factors associated with infection by soil-transmitted helminths were defecation in the open air, being barefoot and living in coastal areas.
authors: Dirección de Vigilancia Sanitaria, Ministerio de Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Óscar René
authors: ÓR
authors: Sorto
authors: Programa de Enfermedades Infecciosas Desatendidas, Dirección de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Ministerio de Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Alexandra Manoella
authors: AM
authors: Portillo
authors: Representación de El Salvador, Organización Panamericana de la Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Miguel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Aragón
authors: Programa de Enfermedades Infecciosas Desatendidas, Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Washington, D.C, Estados Unidos.
authors: Martha Idalí
authors: MI
authors: Saboyá
authors: Programa Regional de Malaria, Organización Panamericana de la Salud-Organización Mundial de la Salud, Washington, D.C, Estados Unidos.
authors: María Paz
authors: MP
authors: Ade
authors: Representación de El Salvador, Organización Panamericana de la Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Miguel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Minero
authors: Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia, Ministerio de Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Marta Alicia
authors: MA
authors: Hernández
authors: Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia, Ministerio de Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Amada Gloria
authors: AG
authors: Mena
authors: Representación de El Salvador, Organización Panamericana de la Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Peña
authors: Representación de El Salvador, Organización Panamericana de la Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
authors: Victor Manuel
authors: VM
authors: Mejía
authors: Programa Regional de Malaria, Organización Panamericana de la Salud-Organización Mundial de la Salud, Washington, D.C, Estados Unidos.
authors: Keith
authors: K
authors: Carter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D060085:Coinfection; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004544:El Salvador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil