Prevalencia de Parasitosis y su Asociación con la Desnutrición: Estudio en escolares de Ecuador

In this cross-sectional assessment of 113 Ecuadorian schoolchildren, the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was notably high at 75.8 %, with Entamoeba histolytica (61.6 %), Entamoeba coli (26.7 %), and Giardia lamblia (5.8 %) predominating. Although no statistically significant association was observed between parasitic infection and malnutrition (χ² = 0.72; p = 0.698), the marked infection rate highlights the need for expanded longitudinal research to ascertain long-term nutritional and health impacts. Key social determinants identified include overcrowding, inadequate hygiene practices, and reactive deworming, reinforcing the imperative for comprehensive deworming initiatives, health education, and enhanced school sanitation infrastructure.