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Blastocystis Hominis and Chronic Abdominal Pain in Children: Is there an Association between Them?
Erick Manuel Toro Monjaraz1, Miguel Angel Vichido Luna2, Ericka Montijo Barrios1
1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, 04300 México City, México.
Insights
Blastocystis hominis (Bh) is a parasite linked to chronic abdominal pain in children. Treating Bh with antimicrobials significantly improved symptoms in pediatric patients, suggesting its role in chronic abdominal pain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Chronic abdominal pain is a common pediatric complaint with diverse causes.
- Parasitic infections, such as Blastocystis hominis (Bh), are potential contributors to gastrointestinal symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Blastocystis hominis infection and chronic abdominal pain in children.
- To evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial treatment for Blastocystis hominis in alleviating pediatric abdominal pain.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of clinical files for pediatric patients diagnosed with both functional abdominal pain and Blastocystis hominis.
- Comparison of symptom improvement between patients who received antimicrobial treatment and those who did not.
Main Results:
- Out of 138 patients with functional abdominal pain and Bh, 101 (73.2%) received antimicrobial treatment.
- A statistically significant improvement in symptoms (p < 0.001) was observed in patients treated for Blastocystis hominis.
Conclusions:
- Blastocystis hominis is a relevant etiology to consider in pediatric chronic abdominal pain.
- Antimicrobial treatment for Blastocystis hominis infection is associated with significant symptom improvement in children.
Abstract:
Chronic abdominal pain has many etiologies, one of them being parasites. The aim of this study was to find an association between chronic abdominal pain in children and Blastocystis hominis (Bh). Clinical files of patients with Bh and functional abdominal pain were reviewed. A comparison was made between patients who showed an improvement of their symptoms and those who did not. Out of the 138 patients who had functional abdominal pain and Bh, 37 patients did not receive any treatment (26.8%), while 101 received it and were treated with different antimicrobial agents (73.2%); regarding the improvement of symptoms, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed. Chronic abdominal pain in children has different etiologies; however, we have documented through this work that it is appropriate to provide antimicrobial treatment for patients with Bh and chronic abdominal pain.
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