Parasitosis intestinal y su relación con el estado nutricional en personas de la tercera edad en la Parroquia de San Luis – Riobamba, Provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the intestinal parasitism and its relationship with nutritional status in elderly people of San Luis Parish - Riobamba, Chimborazo Province. For this process, stool samples were received and blood samples were taken, these ones were transported to be processed in the laboratory of Sciences College of the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. As results, it was obtained that the presence of parasitism in this study reached 54%, with a high prevalence in females, 28% presented Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica 15%, 5% Endolimax nana, 2% with Chilomastix mesnili and Iodamoeba bütschili, while Schistosoma mansoni and Giardia lamblia do not have a significant percentage. Among the main risk factors associated with parasitism, it was found that socio-cultural, pharmacological and health factors are the most influential ones in identifying whether or not the population is parasitized. In the study of the nutritional status according to the body mass index (BMI) it was shown that 45% have a normal weight, overweight with 39%, type I obesity 10%. It was concluded, according to the statistical analysis carried out to determine the correlation between nutritional status and parasitism that, there is no significant relationship between the variables of body mass index, hemoglobin, glucose, albumin and alkaline phosphatase against intestinal parasitism. It is recommended to continue organizing talks, training, and prevention campaigns with sufficient information about parasites, good hygiene practices and consumption of safe and harmless food.