Parasitosis y síndrome de intestino irritable

El sindrome de intestino irritable (SII) es un trastorno funcional digestivo de etiologia multifactorial. En su fisiopatologia se describen diversos factores, tanto biologicos, como psicologicos y ambientales, que afectan el estado de activacion de celulas inmunes en la mucosa intestinal. Entre los factores ambientales se incluye la presencia de alguna parasitosis intestinal. El sindrome de intestino irritable post-infeccioso (SII-PI) es reconocido como un subgrupo de estos trastornos, cuya aparicion de los sintomas es posterior a una infeccion intestinal provocada por agentes microbianos. A pesar de que en Chile hay pocos estudios respecto a la relacion entre SII y parasitosis intestinal, se ha descrito la existencia de una asociacion positiva entre SII e infecciones por Blastocistis hominis, uno de los parasitos prevalentes en Chile. En otros paises, se ha descrito ademas una relacion entre SII, amebiasis y giardiasis. Por la alta prevalencia de parasitosis en nuestro pais, existe la necesidad de ampliar los estudios para clarificar la fuerza de la asociacion entre parasitosis y SII. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterised by multi-factorial aetiology. In IBS physiopathology are involved diverse factors between them biological, psychosocial, and environmental components which affect the immune activation status of gut mucosa. Among these factors is recognized the intestinal parasitosis. Post-infection IBS (PI-IBS) is recognised as a subgroup of functional disorders whose symptoms onset appear after a symptomatic intestinal infection caused by microbial agents. There are few studies regarding of relationship between IBS and intestinal parasitosis in Chile. However, is has been well described a positive association between IBS and Blastocystis hominis infections, one of prevalent parasites in Chile. In other countries, is also described a relationship between IBS and amebiasis and giardiasis. Both, characterized by a common mode of transmission through water as well as contaminated food. Because the high prevalence of parasitosis in our country it is necessary to expand the association studies to clarify the strength of the parasites ethiology in IBS.