Objective
Acute gastroenteritis is a disease characterized by diarrhea. In this disease, virus, bacteria and parasite are the most common factors. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diversity of intestinal parasites in patients with gastroenteritis who applied to the Emergency Department (ED).
Material and Methods
In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, a total of 4177 records of patients with acute gastroenteritis (ICD: K52.9) who were admitted to the ED of our hospital between November 2014 and November 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. A total 410 stool samples for intestinal parasites using the standard parasitological methods were examined.
Results
45.9% of the cases (n=188) were male and 54.1% (n=222) were female. The most common cause of parasitic diarrhea was E. histolytica (85.2%). Of the 410 patients included in the study, 34.6% (n = 142) had leukocytes in the microscopic examination. The microscopic examination of 62.7% (n = 89) of patients with leukocytes also showed parasites. Evaluating the coexistence of parasites and leukocytes together in the stool sample the presence of leukocytes was significantly higher in patients with parasites in the stool sample (p <0.0001). When the coexistence of parasites and erythrocytes in the stool sample were evaluated together, the presence of erythrocytes was significantly higher in patients with parasites in the stool sample (p <0.0001).
Conclusion
E. histolytica is an important public health problem in our region and all over the world. We believe that this problem will be reduced by sewage and infrastructure works and by improvement in sanitation of drinking and utility water.
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