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Published on: August 22, 2012
Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Children: A 10-Year Retrospective Study
Rita R Martins1, Filipa Paixão1, Inês Mendes1
1Pediatric Service, Child and Youth Department, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, Lisbon, PRT.
Cureus
|January 17, 2025
Summary
Intestinal parasitic infections are a concern in Portugal, particularly among pediatric migrants. Giardia lamblia and Strongyloides stercoralis were most common, with increased diagnoses linked to population changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Public health epidemiology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) pose significant public health challenges, especially in resource-limited settings with inadequate sanitation.
- Limited data exists on IPIs within Portugal's pediatric population, particularly concerning the growing migrant community.
- This study addresses the need for comprehensive data on IPIs in children and adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and characteristics of intestinal parasitic infections in pediatric patients in Portugal.
- To analyze epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological aspects of these infections.
- To identify common etiological agents and risk factors in a vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, descriptive study design was employed.
- Data was collected from pediatric patients (children and adolescents) with positive stool examinations or serologies for specific parasites between January 2012 and June 2022.
- Inclusion criteria involved symptomatic patients or those undergoing opportunistic screening.
Main Results:
- Seventy-seven pediatric patients were included, with 56% identified as migrants.
- A total of 79 IPIs were diagnosed, yielding a positivity rate of 2.5%.
- The most prevalent parasites identified were Giardia lamblia and Strongyloides stercoralis, with increasing diagnoses over time correlating with the migrant population growth. Notably, 7.8% of infections occurred in infants under one year old.
Conclusions:
- This research provides unique insights into pediatric IPIs in Europe, highlighting a gap in current literature.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering IPIs in pediatric populations, especially among migrants, and the need for enhanced surveillance.
- Further multicenter research is recommended to refine diagnostic and treatment strategies for intestinal parasites in children.
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