Evaluation of intestinal parasitic infections in schoolchildren from public and private schools

• Grant number: 14/20196-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2015
• End date: January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology
• Principal Investigator: Karina Aparecida de Abreu Tonani
• Grantee: Guilherme Sgobbi Zagui
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (EERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The deficiency in the infrastructure and sanitation becomes points of questions even in the 21st century, since various pathologies resulting from parasitic organisms are more constant every day, decreasing consequently the quality of life. One of the most susceptible groups to parasites infection comprises the school age children. In this work, fecal samples from several students aged between 0-6 years from a private school and public education in the cities of Sertaozinho and Ribeirao Preto, respectively, will be collected during the year of 2015 for a possible identification of the parasites present in the samples analyzed. To obtain the diagnostic, the Lutz Spontaneous Sedimentation Method will be used and in the case of a negative results, the Faust method will be used as an alternative method. Moreover and aiming emphasize the importance of the handwashing, a puppets theater will be done in the schools involved in this project. In the cases of a positive diagnosis, the guardians of the children will receive an orientation to looking for a doctor for a properly treated of the children. This study will be conducted with the main objective to diagnose parasites in the school aged children and make a correlation between the presence of parasites and the socioeconomic status of the children, thus showing a social inequity present even today.