NURSING ACTIONS IN THE PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD ENTEROPARASITIC DISEASES IN PRIMARY CARE

Abstract

Introduction: Enteroparasitoses represent a serious public health problem, affecting mainly children aged 0 to 12 years in social vulnerability situations, with direct impacts on physical and cognitive development, associated with the absence of basic sanitation and poor hygiene conditions. Objective: To understand the actions of nurses aimed at preventing childhood enteroparasitoses in primary health care, identifying the main contributions of this professional and describing their role in the early diagnosis of these infections. Methodology: Descriptive bibliographic review with a qualitative approach, conducted in the LILACS, MEDLINE, BDENF and Google Scholar databases, using the descriptors enteroparasitoses, primary care and nursing with the AND operator. Complete articles in Portuguese, published between 2020 and 2025, were included, resulting in the selection of 20 articles. Results and Discussion: Nurses play a central role in preventing childhood enteroparasitoses through health education, family guidance, home visits and epidemiological surveillance in the Family Health Strategy. Regarding early diagnosis, childcare consultations and routine laboratory tests were highlighted as key tools for timely identification of cases. Conclusion: Nurses are indispensable agents in the prevention and control of childhood enteroparasitoses in primary care, with health education being the most effective strategy for promoting behavioral changes and reducing the incidence of these infections in vulnerable populations.