Screening Of Cryptosporidium Oocysts In Clinically Immunocompetent Children

Original article

English

A. I. Ahmaida, A.H. Khan, N. I. El-Sharkasi, A. A. El-Buni

Garyounis Medical Journal Vol.19. 1998-2002: 26-33

Abstract

Fecal specimens from 106 children admitted with diarrhea over a 6 month period from ]t ofAugust 1996 to end of January 1997 to AlFateh Children’s Hospital, Benghazi, Libya were examined for the presence of cryptosporidial oocysts. Eight (7.54%) were diagnosed by safranin-methylene blue and five (4. 71%) by modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast stain. The former technique detected more cases than the later one and proved to be rapid, economical and easily to administer. The manifestations noted in cryyptosporidiasis patients are gastroenteritis with diarrhea in 8 (100%), vomiting in 7 (87.50%) and fever in 5 (62.50%). All the children (five males and three females) diagnosed for cryptosporidias is were under 2years of age. The average hospitalisation time was 8.57 ± 4.35 days. Only three (37.50%) infants were fed with breast milk and all of them were getting other food items as well.

Keywords: Cryptosporidial oocysts, Diarrhea, Safranin-methylene blue, Ziehl-Neelsen stain

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