Screening For the Burden of Enteric Parasitic Infections Among Egyptian Pre-Schoolers with Gastrointestinal Manifestations: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) continue to be a major public health problem that causes a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms in developing countries. Pre-schoolers are among the vulnerable population to getting such infections. Periodical research on the prevalence of IPI and associated manifestations is essential to improve different control measures in high-risk communities. A cross-sectional study on preschool children with gastrointestinal symptoms (n=200) was done to evaluate the burden of IPI. Demographic data, history taking, and clinical examination of the cases followed by macroscopic and microscopic examination of their stool samples by direct wet mount, concentration, and staining with acid-fast stain "cold method" was done. Among the study population, 49% of participants were positive for one or more IPI. Out of ten parasitic species detected, G.intestinalis, E.histolytica/dispar and C.parvum were the predominant IPI (35%, 16.5%, and 10.5% of participants) respectively. Diarrhoea, flatulence, and vomiting were significantly higher in positive cases for IPI (71.4%, 53.1%, and 36.7% respectively) than in cases without IPI whereas, Abdominal pain was significantly lower in positive cases for IPI (53.1%) than in cases without IPI (73.5%). The frequencies of loose/soft stool in E.histolytica/dispar, C.parvum and E.coli-infected cases (69.6%, 71.4%, and 81.8% respectively) were significantly higher, however, no statistically significant differences regarding stool consistency in G. intestinalis, B. hominins, H. nana-infected cases. Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of bloody stool was among E. histolytica/dispar-infected children (27.3%). In a conclusion, there was a high prevalence of IPIs among preschoolers especially G.intestinalis, E.histolytica/dispar, and C.parvum. This necessitates enrolling preschoolers in the Egyptian deworming programs.