The prevalence of intestinal parasites in young Quichua children was assessed in 20 rural communities in the highlands of Ecuador in August 2005. The caregivers of 293 children aged 12-60 months were interviewed about the status of child health, household socioeconomic and environmental factors, and water-use practices and were requested to collect a faecal sample from the study child. Two hundred three (69.3%) of the 293 children provided faecal samples that were tested for parasites. The overall prevalences of infection for specific agents were
Entamoeba histolytica
or dispar 57.1%,
Ascaris lumbricoides
35.5%,
Entamoeba coli
34.0%,
Giardia intestinalis
(lamblia) 21.1%,
Hymenolepis nana
11.3%,
Cryptosporidium parvum
8.9%,
Chilomastix mesnili
1.7%,
Hymenolepis diminuta
1.0%,
Strongyloides stercoralis
0.7%, and
Trichuris trichiura
0.5%. The prevalence of parasites increased with age. Water storage, water treatment, consistent latrine-use, and participation in a community-based clean water project were not strongly associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasites, although having dirt floors was a risk factor for infection with
E. histolytica or dispar and
G. intestinalis.
