STUDY OF PARASITIC INFECTIONS AMONG CHILDREN ATTENDING MENOUFIYA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

In the present study, 840 children attending the out patient paediatric clinic of Menoufiya University hospital were investigated for the prevalence of parasitic infections. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Different factors which may affect prevalence of parasitic . infections were also studied such as age, sex and residence. In addition, the clinical effects of different parasites on the infected children and the prevalence of anaemia among them were studied. This study included also some immunodiagnostic tests for schistosomiasis. The results of study showed that: I. The overall prevalence of parasitic infections was 49.8% and mixed infections were found in 11.9% . 2. The• commonest helminthic infection was Enterobius

verrnicularis (8.09%)followed by Ancylostoma duodena/e (7.5%), then Hymenolepis nana (4.1%), schistosomes (3.4%) and Ascaris Lumbricoides (3.2%). 3. Protozol infections were found to be more common than helminthic infections as Entamoeba histolytica cysts that were seen in• 13.4% and Giardia Lamblia cysts 111 9.8% while Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected only in 0.1 %.