Nutritional status, anemia and intestinal parasitosis in children and teenagers from Hogar de Amor y Esperanza, Tegucigalpa, year 2017

Abstract

To identify the nutritional status by anthropometry, the presence of anemia and parasites of children and adolescents of the Hogar de Amor y Esperanza in Colonia San José de la Vega of Tegucigalpa, the year 2017, to determine nutritional alterations and refer them to services of health. Method: Quantitative and non-experimental study, with a descriptive and transversal approach of the total population between 5 and 17 years of age. Results: According to the body mass index (BMI), it was found that 0.85% presented severe malnutrition, 0.85% moderate malnutrition, 94.02% normal, and 4.27% were overweight. According to the average size for boys and girls between 5 to 10 years of age; 16.0% are below the 3rd percentile, 26% in the 3rd percentile, 48% in the 15th percentile, 8% in the 50th percentile and 2% in percentile 85. According to weight regarding age: 10.0% are below the 3rd percentile, 20% in the 3rd percentile, 34% in the 15th percentile, 28% in the 50th percentile, 6% in the 85th percentile and 2% in the 97th percentile. 77.78% had a normal blood cell count, 5.98% abnormal and in the remaining percentage, this test was not performed. The presence of protozoan and metazoan parasites were found in 80.56%, and the prevalent species were Blastocystis hominis, Endolimax nana cyst, Entamoeba coli cyst and Iodamoeba Butschlii cyst. The presence of 1 parasite was observed in 27.78%, presence of 2 parasites 31.94%, presence of 3 parasites 20.83% and no parasites were observed in 19.44% of the children and adolescents of HAYE. Conclusion: The population presents good nutritional status according to the parameters of BMI, hematological examination and stool, finding a higher prevalence of delay in height than in weight.