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Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Children
with Chronic Liver Diseases, Assiut Governorate, Egyp

Research Abstract
Abstract Background: Children with chronic liver diseases (CLDs), like immunocompromised individuals, are susceptible to infection with opportunistic parasites. Objectives: To identify the frequency of intestinal parasitic infection among children with CLDs in Assiut Governorate, Egypt, and to correlate this infection with blood eosinophil count and patients' anthropometric measurements. Patients and Methods: The present hospital-based case-control study was conducted on 200 children with CLDs of different etiologies (Cases) and age- and gendermatching 200 children complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms without CLDs as control patients. All children were investigated for liver function, complete blood count (CBC) (including differential and absolute eosinophil count), and stool examination. Infection was correlated to eosinophil count, and participant's weight and height. Results: Among children with CLDs, the intestinal protozoa identified in order of frequency were; Giardia lamblia (16.5%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (13.5%), Blastocystis spp. (12%), Cryptosporidium spp. (8%), and microsporidial spores (3%). Intestinal helminthes identified in order of frequency were; Hymenolepis nana (8%), Enterobius vermicularis (6%), Ancylostoma doudenale (5%), Ascaris lumbricoides (3%), Taenia saginata (1.5%), and Schistosoma mansoni (0.5%). As compared to control patients, incidence of intestinal protozoa in CLDs children was significantly higher (P 0.001), but there was insignificant difference regarding the incidence of intestinal helminthes (P = 0.107). The level of blood eosinophils in control patients was significantly higher than that in CLDs children (P = 0.001). While weight and height of children were apparently affected by parasitic infections, there was no significant correlation between intestinal parasitic infection and liver function tests. The prevalence of parasitic infections in children from rural areas was significantly higher than in those from urban areas in both groups (P 0.001). Conclusion: We reported a significant increase in the incidence of intestinal parasites with a lower eosinophilic immune response in cases with CLDs compared to controls. However, infection did not correlate with level of liver enzymes. Infection seemed to negatively affect the weight and height of the studied children
Research Authors
Shaban M. Sror
Shereen M. Galal
Yasser M. Mohamed
Ahmed K. Dyab
Research Department
Research Journal
Jouf University Medical Journal (JUMJ),
Research Member
Research Pages
1 - 8
Research Publisher
Aljouf University
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
2019 September 1; 6(3): 1 - 8
Research Website
https://www.ju.edu.sa/en/administrations/university-administration/vice-rector-for-graduate-studies-and-scientific-research/scientific-journals/
Research Year
2019