[Helminth eggs and larvae in restrooms at municipal nursery schools in Sorocaba, SP, Brazil, and their frequency in children feces]. / Ovos e larvas de helmintos nos sanitários de pré-escolas municipais de Sorocaba, SP e suas freqüências nas fezes das crianças.

The purpose of this research was to establish a relationship between the presence of helminth eggs in the water closet elements and the frequency of these eggs in the feces of their users. 1050 kindergarten children's feces were examined by the spontaneous sedimentation method in three samples of feces, which were positive in 162 children presenting 184 eggs or helmints larvs. From the 465 water closet elements, constituted of : toilet seat, internal and external door knobs, latch, faucet handle and discharge valve, of 12 Infant Educational Centers of Sorocaba, examined by sticking some transparent adhesive tape on microscopy slides, were found 18 eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides; 1 of Enterobius vermicularis and 4 larvs of nemathoids partially deformed were found in 23 infected elements. There wasn't significance relationship between the elements of water closets and user's feces contamination.

[Frequency of intestinal helminth eggs in public restrooms in Sorocaba, SP]. / Estudo da freqüência de ovos de helmintos intestinais em sanitários de uso público de Sorocaba, SP.

Four hundred and five water closets were investigated: 11 located at public squares, 2 at the railroad station, 4 at the bus station, 55 at bars and restaurants, 146 at state schools, 116 at municipal schools, 8 at private schools, 36 at public health centers, 16 at sports centers, 8 at orphanages and 3 at shopping malls. Microscopy slides with adhesive tape were used. The material was obtained by sticking the tape onto the following elements: 4 spots on the toilet seat, internal and external door knobs, latch, faucet handle and discharge valve (push button or pulling string). Out of the 405 water closets studied, 22 (5.43%) were contaminated. Eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostomatidae, Enterobius vermiculares, Taenia sp and Hymenolepis nana were found. In 2 water closets eggs of 2 parasites were found simultaneously.