Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Brazil: a systematic review

Celestino, Ariel Oliveira; Vieira, Sarah Cristina Fontes; Lima, Pablo Amercio Silva; Rodrigues, Larissa Maria Cardoso Lima; Lopes, Isabel Ribeiro Santana; França, Camila Mendonça; Barreto, Ikaro Daniel de Carvalho; Gurgel, Ricardo Queiroz

doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0033-2021

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Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

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Major Article • Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. 54 • 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0033-2021 copy

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Brazil: a systematic review

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Parasitic infections are considered a major public health problem due to their associated morbimortality and negative impact on physical and intellectual development, especially in the at-risk pediatric group. Periodic prophylactic administration of antiparasitic agents against soil-transmitted helminths is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to control parasitic infections and disease burden. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Brazil.

METHODS:

We performed a systematic review by searching the literature found in the PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO databases, followed by a meta-analysis of the proportions from studies published in English, Portuguese, and/or Spanish from January 2000 to May 2018. This systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42018096214).

RESULTS:

The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (protozoa and/or helminths) in Brazil was 46% (confidence interval: 39-54%), with 99% heterogeneity. Prevalence varied by region: 37%, 51%, 50%, 58%, and 41% in the Southeast, South, Northeast, North, and Central-West regions, respectively. Most studies (32/40) evaluated children (<18 years) and found an average prevalence of 51%. Children also had the highest prevalence in all four regions: Central-West (65%), South (65%), North (58%), Northeast (53%), and Southeast (37%). However, most studies evaluated specific populations, which may have created selection bias. Presumably, this review of intestinal parasitic diseases in Brazil includes the most studies and the largest population ever considered.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections is high in Brazil, and anthelmintic drugs should be administered periodically as a prophylactic measure, as recommended by the WHO.

Keywords:
Parasitic diseases; Health policy; Communicable diseases

Database	Search strategy
PubMed	(parasites[MeSH] OR parasitic diseases[MeSH] OR parasitic infection[MeSH]) AND (prevalence[MeSH] OR epidemiology[MeSH]) AND Brazil[MeSH]
LILACS and SciELO	(parasites OR parasitic diseases) AND (prevalence OR epidemiology) AND Brazil

Region	Study	Year	State/Region	N/prevalence (%)	Age range
CENTRAL-WEST	SANTOS et al.	2014	DF	193/66.70	Under 18 years
	CURVAL et al.	2017	CO	510/20.19	Older than 18 years
	JUNIOR et al.	2017	MS	66/43.93	Older than 18 years
NORTH	ORLANDI et al.	2006	RO	470/18.20	Under 18 years
	MONTEIRO et al.	2009	AM	221/66.40	Under 18 years
	SILVA et al.	2009	AM	123/74.25	Under 18 years
	ESCOBAR et al.	2010	AM	245/82.44	Under 18 years
	FONSECA et al.	2010	N	1133/38.48	Under 18 years
	BANHOS et al.	2017	PA	367/67.57	Under 18 years
NORTHEAST	GUIMARÃES et al.	2006	BA	268/30.22	Under 18 years
	BARBOSA et al.	2006	PB	11234/45.40	Under 18 years
	SANTOS et al.	2006	BA	410/70.73	Under 18 years
	CABRAL et al.	2010	BA	348/79.31	Under 18 years
	PALMEIRA et al.	2010	AL	481/35.75	Under 18 years
	FONSECA et al.	2010	NE	1135/46.64	Under 18 years
	FURTADO et al.	2011	PI	294/40.50	Older than 18 years
	SILVA et al.	2011	MA	220/53.60	Under 18 years
	CAMPOS et al.	2011	RN	86/72.09	Under 18 years
	SOUZA et al.	2012	PE	110/48.18	Under 18 years
	FERNANDES et al.	2014	PI	251/51.39	Older than 18 years
	SANTOS et al.	2017	BA	265/27.16	Older than 18 years
SOUTH	QUADROS et al.	2004	SC	200/70.05	Under 18 years
	MARRONE et al.	2004	RS	96/82.29	Under 18 years
	BENCKE et al.	2006	RS	222/45.94	Under 18 years
	SANTOS et al.	2014	SC	57/61.40	Under 18 years
	COLLI et al.	2014	PR	150/28.00	Older than 18 years
	SILVA et al.	2017	RS	30/12.00	Older than 18 years
	JESKE et al.	2017	RS	73/61.64	Older than 18 years
SOUTHEAST	CARVALHO et al.	2002	MG	18973/18.06	Under 18 years
	FERREIRA et al.	2003	MG	72/59.72	Under 18 years
	FERREIRA et al.	2005	SP	902/11.50	Under 18 years
	CARVALHO et al.	2006	SP	279/53.40	Under 18 years
	MENEZES et al.	2008	MG	472/24.57	Under 18 years
	BARÇANTE et al.	2008	MG	176/22.72	Under 18 years
	KORKES et al.	2009	SP	120/30.83	Under 18 years
	TASHIMA et al.	2009	SP	1000/21.30	Under 18 years
	SILVA et al.	2010	MG	161/72.67	Under 18 years
	GONÇALVES et al.	2011	MG	133/29.32	Under 18 years
	SANTOS et al.	2012	SE	245/51.80	Under 18 years
	BELO et al.	2012	MG	1172/28.58	Under 18 years
	FONSECA et al.	2017	SP	233/57.50	Under 18 years

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[1] Corresponding author: Ariel Oliveira Celestino. e-mail:biomedica.ariel@gmail.com