Isosporiasis in children

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Bijay R Mirdha1, S K Kabra, J C Samantray

  • 1Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110 029, India. mirdhabr@hotmail.com

Indian Pediatrics
|November 13, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Intestinal coccidiosis caused by Isospora belli is uncommon in children with diarrhea. While diarrhea may last longer in children with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), symptoms are similar across HIV-positive and negative groups.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Diarrhea is a common ailment in children, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Intestinal coccidiosis, caused by parasites like Isospora belli, can be a significant cause of persistent diarrhea.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of intestinal coccidiosis in children with diarrhea.
  • To compare the clinical presentation and duration of diarrhea in Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive versus HIV-negative children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic data from pediatric patients with diarrhea over a decade.
  • Stool sample analysis for the identification of parasitic infections, specifically Isospora belli.

Main Results:

  • Isospora belli was identified in the stool samples of seven children with diarrhea during the ten-year study period.
  • Diarrhea showed a trend towards longer duration in HIV-seropositive children compared to seronegative children.
  • No significant differences in the clinical picture of diarrhea were observed between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children.

Conclusions:

  • Isospora belli is an infrequent cause of diarrhea in the studied pediatric population.
  • While HIV infection may prolong diarrhea, it does not significantly alter the clinical presentation of coccidiosis in children.

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