Parasitic gut flora in a north Indian population with gastrointestinal symptoms

Intestinal parasitosis is a major health problem in India. More than 3000 million people have one or more parasites in their gut at any given time. There have been various studies in India to elucidate the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitosis in health and disease. In present study, data from 8000 stool samples examined over a period of 4 years from April 1984 to March 1988 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences was processed and analysed in a computer. Of the 8000 samples screened more than 25% were positive for one or more parasites. Females predominated over males and the most affected age group was 20-29 years in both sexes. Pain abdomen was the leading clinical manifestation. Of the parasite positive samples 54.19% had one parasite, 26.05% two, 14.61% three, 4.40% four and 0.74% had five or more intestinal parasites. Amongst the various pathogenic protozoan parasites, Giardia lamblia was most frequently encountered, while hookworm was the commonest amongst helminthic parasites. The non-pathogenic protozoan parasites E. nana and E. coli were the most frequent in all groups.