ROLE OF THE NURSE IN THE PREVENTION OF ASCARIASIS IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

The article analyzes the role of the nurse in preventing ascariasis in childhood, an intestinal parasitosis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides and recognized as an important public health problem, especially in contexts marked by poor sanitation, lack of potable water, and inadequate hygiene practices. The disease, often associated with social vulnerabilities, affects children's growth, development, and nutritional status, requiring consistent and integrated preventive actions within the scope of Primary Health Care (PHC). In this context, the aim of the study was to understand, based on scientific literature, the role played by nurses in the prevention, early recognition, and management of complications arising from childhood ascariasis. This is a bibliographic, exploratory, and qualitative study conducted in national databases and composed of publications released between 2015 and October 2025. The evidence analyzed indicates that health education is the central axis of preventive strategies, allowing the nurse to act as a multiplier of knowledge and promoter of behavioral changes among families and communities. Actions focused on promoting hygiene habits, proper use of treated water, food hygiene, and correct waste management stand out, as they are essential elements for interrupting the parasite transmission cycle. The results also highlight the importance of continuous training for nursing professionals, as well as strengthening health promotion and prevention policies. The nurse's role, by integrating educational practices, health surveillance, clinical assessment, and intersectoral coordination, proves to be strategic in reducing the incidence of parasitic infections and mitigating clinical complications, such as malnutrition, intestinal obstruction, and cognitive deficits. It is concluded that the qualification of educational practice and the improvement of PHC actions are fundamental for tackling ascariasis, contributing to better child health conditions and to the advancement of sustainable strategies for controlling enteroparasitoses in the territory.