Parasitosis intestinal en el universitario costarricense II. Protozoosis

Abstract

A study is presented of the incidence of protozoan parasitosis in Costa Rican university freshmen. One thousand 'students of either sex were examined, and the symptoms exhibited were recorded along with the results. The total incidence of protozoan parasites was of 54.4 percent, a higher figure than we found for helmintos (2). No significant difference was found in relation to sex. Entamoeba coli was the most frequent parasite (39.45%). Although usually considered a saprozoic species, the occurrence of digestive, hepatic, and nervous symptoms, smarting of the conjunctive, and dismenorrhoea in the host individuals suggests it may have a causal relation to these symptoms. Entomoeba histolytica was found in relatively low frequency (4.6%). Students parasitized by protozoa exhibited in general a greater incidence of ob­servable symptoms, in varying degrees and combinations, than non-parasitized students; the most frequent symptoms were those mentioned above. Considering the effect of the symptoms recorded on students' general efficiency, and having observed an improvement after specific treatment, we believe all protozoan parasitosis cases should be treated, even if the species involved are not usually considered pathogenic.