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.
Nimri
L
L
Department of Biological Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbed.
Batchoun
R
R
D000818:Animals; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male