[Risk factors for hydatid disease in high school students in the district of Punitaqui, Chile].

BACKGROUND: Hydatidosis is an endemic zoonosis in different areas of Chile, including the Region of Coquimbo, this is linked to the slaughter of cattle and presence of dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors related to hydatidosis in the home of high school students of Punitaqui.

MATERIAL: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done by the application of a self-administered questionnaire to 274 students of high school. The information was analyzed by urban/rural area in five dimensions: knowledge, basic sanitation, keeping dogs, vegetable growing and cattle slaughtering and possession.

RESULTS: 84.6% of urban students reported not having received hydatidosis education. In rural areas, 93.5% reported owning dogs, with an average of 2.95 dogs/home (p < 0.001). In urban areas 44.4% of the dogs had not been dewormed and 60.3% (p < 0.001) was fed with viscera in rural areas. The 66.2% of cattle were goats and sheep and 64.5% (p < 0.001) of rural households did slaught. The main way to eliminate viscera was feeding the dogs.

CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors that favor the presence of the parasite were present in relation to keeping dogs and cattle breeding and slaughter, which occurred mostly in rural areas, but being also present in urban areas.