Original article
English
Mohamed B BenRashed , Majid Abulhassan , Abdulmageed Tabit and Ali Hawas
1- Department of Parasitology. Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fateh University.
2- Ajala Paediatric Hospital.
3- Alhureya Polyclinic.
Tripoli-Libya
JMJ Vol. 6, No.2 (2006): 138-140
Abstract
Objective: The percentage of pathogenic intestinal parasites was determined among children with and without diarrhoea in Tripoli. The age of the children ranged from 1month to 108 months. The percentage of Enterobiasis was not determined as it needs scotch tape preparation. Methods: After taking the verbal consent, from the parent, the selected children were divided into two groups with and without diarrhoea, interviewed by a structured questionnaire and then each subject in the study was provided with a clean, plastic container to collect the stool samples. Samples were examined using normal saline, iodine preparation and formal ether concentration technique was done. Results: The total study group was 210 samples divided to two groups, 1st 110 children with diarrhoea (70 from Tripoli and 40 from outside Tripoli), and 2nd 100 without diarrhoea considered as control group (63 from Tripoli and 27 from outside Tripoli). Age ranges from 1 to 108 months. The overall infection rate was 32.7% in the first group, and 29% in the second group. Results showed no significant difference between the two groups and gender (p value was 0.86 and 0.38 respectively) ; while showed significant difference in age groups and place of residence inside or outside Tripoli (p value was 0.0001 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: In the light of our study results, we concluded that there is a high prevalence of parasitic infection, also reveals trends in the occurrence of specific parasites. G. lamblia was the predominant protozoa noted whereas A. lumbricoides was the commonest helminthic infection found. Community approach and a planed strategy for intervention including health education program should be designed and implemented to control parasitic infections.
Keywords: Intestinal parasites, children, Libya, Diarrhoea
Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1356