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Evaluation of Intestinal Parasites and Some Clinical Symptoms in Children with Diarrhea
İnan Karakuş1, Zeynep Taş Cengiz2, Abdurrahman Ekici2
1Özel Asyam Özel Eğitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi, Iğdır, Türkiye
Insights
Intestinal parasites are common in children with diarrhea, with higher rates in girls and those with specific living conditions. Evaluation for parasites is crucial for pediatric patients presenting with symptoms like abdominal pain and nausea.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Intestinal parasitic infections are a significant global health concern, particularly in pediatric populations.
- Diarrhea in children can be caused by various factors, including parasitic infections, necessitating accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children presenting with diarrhea.
- To assess the clinical significance and risk factors associated with these infections in children.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 300 children with diarrhea and 100 healthy controls aged 1-16 years.
- Stool sample analysis using native-Lugol and modified acid-fast staining methods.
- Assessment of living conditions and clinical symptoms in relation to parasitic infection.
Main Results:
- Intestinal parasite positivity was significantly higher in children with diarrhea (35%) compared to controls (17%).
- Common parasites identified included Blastocystis hominis (13%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3%), and Giardia intestinalis (2%).
- Parasitic positivity showed significant associations with gender, living conditions (livestock, sewerage), abdominal pain, and nausea.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal parasites represent an important health issue in the pediatric population.
- Children with symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea warrant evaluation for intestinal parasites.
- Environmental and demographic factors play a role in the prevalence of these infections.
Objective:
This study aimed to determine the frequency of intestinal parasites in children who were presented to health centers with a complaint of diarrhea and to reveal the importance of these parasites.
Methods:
The study was conducted on children within the age range of 1-16 who were presented to Iğdır State Hospital and Private Bulut Hospital between 2020 February-April 2020 with a complaint of diarrhea. A total of 300 children comprising 141 girls and 159 boys were enrolled in the study. The control group was composed of 100 children (girls=50, boys=50) without any chronic disease and diarrhea. Stool samples were evaluated by the native-Lugol method and the modified acid-fast staining method.
Results:
Intestinal parasite positivity was found in 105 (35%) out of the 300 children in the patient group and in 17 (17%) out of the 100 children in the control group. In terms of parasitic positivity, a statistically significant difference was found between children with diarrhea and the healthy control group (p=0.001). Blastocystis hominis (13%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3%), and Giardia intestinalis (2%) were found in the patient group. Intestinal parasitic positivity was found in 30.2% and 40.4% of the boys and girls in the patient group, respectively, whereas it was found in 14% and 20% of the boys and girls in the control group, respectively. When evaluated statistically according to gender, a significant difference (comparison for boys: p=0.008; comparison for girls: p=0.004) was noted between the patient group and control group for each gender. In terms of the relationship between the frequency of parasites and some living conditions of the patients, a statistically significant relationship was found in the comparison of "whether or not livestock" (p=0.004) and "whether there is a sewerage network" (p=0.002). Additionally, a significant difference was found between parasitic positivity and abdominal pain (p=0.008) and nausea (p=0.003).
Conclusion:
The present study concludes that children with clinical symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea, should be evaluated for intestinal parasites. Furthermore, it has been understood that intestinal parasites remain an important health problem among the pediatric cohort.
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