Anemia, parasitosis, and estimation of nutritional status through anthropometric and hematological evaluation, fecal parasitological examinations, and nutrition management in children from 0 to 6 years of age in Pueblo Mayo, Sonora.

Abstract

Anemia is the decrease in hemoglobin in erythrocytes due to a deficit in the intake of foods with iron or intestinal malabsorption of this micronutrient. Parasitosis can affect the absorption of nutrients due to inflammation or damage to the intestinal mucosa or tissue; Children are generally more susceptible to infections due to pathogenic microorganisms mainly due to their lifestyle and living conditions, increasing these conditions in rural areas where sanitary conditions are deficient. This research aimed to determine the presence of iron deficiency anemia, parasitism, and estimation of nutritional status in children from 0 to 6 years of age from the rural community of Pueblo Mayo, in the south of the state of Sonora, Mexico using hematological, anthropometric and parasitic evaluations, and intervention through workshops on healthy eating education, vitamin supplementation, and antiparasitic treatment. The results of this work reported a parasitosis in 98% of the children evaluated in the nutritional evaluation 42% of the children presented elevated abdominal perimeters, 18% presented decreased body fat, 12% increased skull size for weight and height. The results indicate that the children have chronic malnutrition, and 32% of children with microcytic anemia. All the children diagnosed with parasitosis were medicated with antiparasitic treatment and vitamin A supplementation to strengthen their immune system, given diets to reduce the condition of anemia, and talks to develop their hygiene habits and food preparation.