Intestinal colonization of symptomatic and asymptomatic schoolchildren with Blastocystis hominis.
A study of single stool specimens was done to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among 1,000 primary school children. A questionnaire was completed by each child's parents. Specimens were examined by using wet-mount preparation, formaline-ether concentration, and Sheather's flotation technique. Trichrome and acid-fast stains were done. Blastocystis hominis was observed in 203 (20.3%) of the specimens examined, and 175 specimens contained this organism in the absence of other pathogenic parasites. Older children had fewer B. hominis infections (6 to 7 years old, 50% infection rate; 8 to 9 years, 27.5%; 10 to 12 years, 9.5%). The most common complaints reported by 75 children harboring the parasite were a mild recurrent diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, anorexia, and fatigue. Blastocystosis is quite common among schoolchildren. Contaminated drinking water is suspected to be the source of infection.
Department of Biological Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbed.
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D000818:Animals; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male