Social and health indicators in an academic community: enteroparasites, nutritional, allergic and clinical aspects / Indicadores sociais e de saúde em uma comunidade acadêmica: enteroparasitos, aspectos nutricionais, alérgicos e clínicos

Objective: this study aimed to associate enteroparasitic infection with nutritional, allergic, and clinical repercussions and the sociodemographic aspects in an academic community in Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil. Methods: the cross-sectional research was carried out between February 2018 and March 2020, with 121 participants. Spontaneous sedimentation and Rugai techniques were used for the parasitological diagnosis of fecal samples. Allergies and clinical issues and the sociodemographic aspects were studied via a questionnaire, and the nutritional status was obtained from the assessment of body mass index and arm and abdominal circumferences. Results: there was 38.2% positivity for intestinal parasites; 65.9% for female participants; with the majority of eutrophic, between 18-27 years old; heteronormative, and single. Besides, the Endolimax nana (78.7%) and Giardia duodenalis (21.3%) were the predominant species. Statistical significance was found between obesity rates and the presence of intestinal parasites and those with allergic aspects. Nervousness, headache, and back and abdominal pains were the most common symptoms. Conclusions: this study contributes to obtaining data on epidemiological and public health surveys in the Bahian territory, providing a reference for other researchers. The statistical association of these with nutritional and allergic aspects can support future research on this population.

Objetivo: este estudo teve como objetivo associar a infecção enteroparasitária com aspectos nutricionais, alérgicos, clínicos e sociodemográficos em uma comunidade acadêmica do município de Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brasil. Método: a pesquisa transversal foi realizada entre fevereiro de 2018 e março de 2020, com 121 participantes. As técnicas de sedimentação espontânea e Rugai foram utilizadas para o diagnóstico parasitológico de amostras fecais. Alergias, questões clínicas e aspectos sociodemográficos foram estudados por meio de um questionário, e o estado nutricional foi obtido por meio da avaliação do índice de massa corporal e das circunferências braquial e abdominal. Resultados: houve 38,2% de positividade para parasitos intestinais; 65,9% para participantes do sexo feminino; com a maioria eutrófica, entre 18-27 anos; heteronormativa e sigle. Além disso, Endolimax nana (78,7%) e Giardia duodenalis (21,3%) foram as espécies predominantes. Foi encontrada significância estatística entre as taxas de obesidade e presença de parasitos intestinais e com aspectos alérgicos. Nervosismo, dor de cabeça, dores nas costas e abdominais foram os sintomas mais comuns. Conclusões: este estudo contribui para a obtenção de dados sobre inquéritos epidemiológicos e de saúde pública no território baiano, servindo de referência para outras pesquisas. A associação estatística destes com aspectos nutricionais e alérgicos pode subsidiar futuras pesquisas nesta população.

Enteric parasites and socio-epidemiological variables in na academic community

Studies linking human health to environmental conditions are essential since parasitic diseases are connected to environmental and sanitary aspects. This study identified the prevalence of enteric parasites in an academic community in the municipality of Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil. The purpose was to determine the existence, or not, of links between infections and socio-epidemiological variables, such as personal hygiene habits, the presence of sewage systems and the environment. Participants answered a questionnaire and received universal collectors for fecal samples. Spontaneous sedimentation methods and Rugai were used for diagnosis. One hundred twenty-one samples were analyzed, in which a 38.8% parasite prevalence was detected as well as a 61.7% rate of monoparasitism, as well as a predominance of protozoa Endolimax nana (78.7%) and Giardia duodenalis (21.3%). Among parasitized individuals, 97.9% lived in the Recôncavo Baiano region. The following statistical significance stands out in the findings, with p<0.05: individuals who had already bathed in the local river were more likely to be parasitized than those who had not (p = 0.034) and individuals who washed their hands more frequently before meals proved to be less prone to intestinal parasitic infections (p = 0.018). Results evidenced the presence of enteric parasites in a number of participants in spite of their being university students. The socio-epidemiological variables analyzed brought to light characteristics that favor the establishment of the epidemiological infection triad, such as improper packaging of household waste on disposal and no records of regular domestic water tank cleaning.