Prevalence of enteroparasitosis in users of the clinical analysis laboratory of a municipality of the agreste region of Alagoas.

Abstract

Parasitic diseases represent a significant challenge in the field of global public health, being closely linked to precarious sociodemographic and environmental conditions, which are more common in tropical and subtropical countries. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of enteroparasitosis in the population attended by a private clinical analysis laboratory in the Agreste region of Alagoas. A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a clinical analysis laboratory located in the city of Arapiraca-AL, using the results of fecal examinations from 01/01/2023 to 12/31/2023, among individuals aged 1 to 99 years, totaling 5,871 analyzed tests. The Hoffman, Pons, and Janer or Lutz Method, also known as the spontaneous sedimentation method, was used for the examination. As a result, 7% (431) of cases were positive for at least one intestinal parasite, with the most prevalent being the protozoa Entamoeba coli 33.26% (152), Giardia lamblia 16.47% (71), Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar 11.60% (50), and Endolimax nana 0.93% (4). Regarding helminth infections, the most prevalent was Ascaris lumbricoides at 24.12% (104), followed by Enterobius vermicularis 3.71% (16), Hymenolepis nana 1.85% (8), Schistosoma mansoni 1.85% (8), Trichuris trichiura 0.92% (4), and Ancylostomatidae 0.92% (4). Thus, due to the significant portion of the population infected, the importance of implementing public policies aimed at improving sanitary education is evident.