Prevalencia de parasitosis intestinal en ni？os de la comunidad de Los Cuadros, Goicoechea, Costa Rica. 2002-2003

to analyze the presence of intestinal parasites, there has been developed a study with a 95% of confidence level at the urban-marginal community of los cuadros, goicoechea, san josé, costa rica, during the years 2003 and 2004, using a sample random of 350 children up to 5 years of age, from whom faecal samples were collected by visits home by home. the stool samples were analyzed to detect intestinal parasites through a direct exam (saline and iodine solutions), sedimentation of formalin-ether (ritchie) and zielh neelsen modified. from the 350 stool samples, 210 (60%) were positive showing at least one parasite, protozoa and helminths, which represented a 60% prevalence. the results showed the presence of giardia intestinalis (18.2%); entamoeba histolytica/e dispar (15.7%); ascaris lumbricoides (15.4%); entamoeba coli (9.7%) and trichuris (0.8%). the present study clearly showes that intestinal parasites represent a serious problem in this community. therefore, sanitary education, prevention and treatment strategies are necessary to improve people health condition in this community.