Avaliação da contaminação parasitária em área de recreação de uma Unidade de Educação Básica Pública

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections pose a serious public health problem in Brazil and include zoonotic diseases caused by helminths and protozoa. Socioenvironmental factors contribute to the high prevalence and spread of these diseases, especially in school-age children who, in addition to their developing immune system, often have inadequate hygiene habits. Although pedagogical and offering relevant playful space for children, school playgrounds often feature sandboxes as part of environments that allow contact with nature and active, sensory learning. However, without proper care, including regular and adequate hygiene, these sandboxes can become contaminated with parasites and pose a risk to children. In order to assess possible parasitic contamination of the soil in the recreational areas of the UFPB Application School, Campus I, soil samples from the playground areas and fecal samples from children enrolled in the year 2024, with access to the sandboxes, were collected and analyzed parasitologically. Data on the socioeconomic profile of families and children's health were also collected, respecting the ethical aspects recommended by the National Health Council. A total of 52 families responded to the survey, representing 65 children out of the 288 enrolled in 2024. Of these, 18 children had their feces analyzed. The sand samples collected at the end of 2023 were positive on sides A and B and negative on side C, while all sand samples collected in early 2024 were positive at all points collected with the presence of helminth larvae. A report was submitted to the school requesting sand sanitization between the two analyses, but sanitation was not provided by the university management. The health profile of the children, reported by the families, indicated recent symptomatology compatible with some parasitic infections and other infectious diseases, but in the fecal parasitological analysis, only one of the children showed contamination by a commensal protozoan. A report with the result of the fecal analysis of all children was delivered only to the families, with recommendations when necessary. Raw results, without identification of the children, were shared with the School Management and Pedagogical Coordination, as well as with the Nursing Sector of the School to guide health education activities. The results will be presented and discussed in a pedagogical meeting with the parents still in 2024, with the participation of the responsible researchers. A report with the result of the sand analysis was delivered to the school with a recommendation for immediate sand sanitization to prevent children from being infected.