Enterobius vermicularis eggs in basic health unit waiting rooms and toilets in the city of New-Serrana, MG, Brazil: contributions to control

Abstract

In this study, the presence of intestinal helminth eggs was evaluated in samples collected from five Basic Health Units (BHU) using the Graham’s technique (1941), in the city of Nova Serrana (MG). In the total of 8 collections, 40 chair seats and 40 attendance tables were sampled in the reception and, on the toilet doors, 64 internal door handles and 64 external door handles. All the slides were analyzed by light optic microscopy with 10X and 40X magnifications in the Microscopy Laboratory FUNEDI / UEMG and re-examined in the Medical Malacology and Helminthology Laboratory
of the Research Center René Rachou (FIOCRUZ-Minas). The results indicated the presence of Enterobius vermicularis eggs, mostly viable, with infection rates calculated by simple proportion. In the reception the contamination percentage was 25.0% on attendance tables and 17.9% on chair seats; in the toilets, 35.7% of internal door handles and 21.4% of external door handles presented eggs. There were no eggs and larvae of other helminths, only pollen grains, vegetable fibers and fungal spores. Lectures were held with employees of BHU to present the results and discuss measures that can be taken to prevent contamination of people who attend and work at these sites. The data showed that the BHU toilets and waiting rooms can be important vehicles of dispersal and contamination with enteroparasites. Health education measures are important and must be undertaken among the health center users and employees as they lead people to understand the problem, change their habits and discuss solutions to prevent and control this and other diseases.