[Intestinal parasite infections in rural students of Chiloé archipelago, X Region, Chile]

In order to contribute to the knowledge of intestinal parasite infection a survey was performed in 462 primary school children from eight rural localities sited in two islands of the Chiloe archipelago. Stool samples and perianal scotch tape scrapings for intestinal protozoa and helminths were microscopically examined. The prevalence rates of the main species found were: Ascaris lumbricoides 43.3%, Trichuris trichiura 26.8%, Enterobius vernicularis 20.1%, Entamoeba histolytica 5.6%, Giardia intestinalis 20.6% and Blastocystis hominis 63.2%. Poverty, deficiencies in hygienic practices and poor basic environmental sanitation are the contributing factors in the maintenance of the high prevalence of the intestinal parasitic infections found. A health education program, improvement of basic sanitary conditions and eventual treatment of infected people may contribute to control this undesirable situation.