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Is intestinal parasitic infection still a public health concern among Saudi children?

Faten A Al-Braiken1

  • 1Department of Medical Parasitology, College of medicine, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 6903, Jeddah 21452, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. albraikanfaten@hotmail.com

Saudi Medical Journal
|November 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Intestinal parasite infections affect over a third of children with gastroenteritis in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Common parasites like Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar pose a significant health risk.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Parasitology
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Intestinal parasite infections are a global health concern, particularly in children.
  • Gastroenteritis in children can be exacerbated by parasitic co-infections.
  • Limited data exists on the prevalence of intestinal parasites in pediatric gastroenteritis cases in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in children presenting with gastroenteritis in Jeddah.
  • To identify specific intestinal parasites commonly found in this pediatric population.
  • To assess the potential health risks associated with these infections.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2007 in Jeddah.
  • Fecal samples were collected from 500 children (aged 0-10 years) with gastroenteritis at two major public hospitals.
  • Samples underwent concentration (formol-ethyl acetate) and microscopic examination with specific staining techniques.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 33.8%.
  • Key identified parasites included Giardia lamblia (overall 4.1%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (overall 6.7%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (overall 4.1%).
  • Blastocystis hominis was also detected, primarily in outpatients.

Conclusions:

  • Intestinal parasitic infections remain a common and significant health issue among children with gastroenteritis in Saudi Arabia.
  • The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and diagnostic efforts for parasitic infections in pediatric gastroenteritis cases.
  • Effective control strategies are crucial to mitigate the health burden of these infections in the region.
Abstract

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