title: Retrospective analysis of intestinal parasitic infections diagnosed at a University Hospital in Central, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the intestinal parasites diagnosed in a university hospital in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective analysis of intestinal parasitic infections reported in patients visiting at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, KSA from 1996 to 2003. Information regarding positive cases detected during the study period was collected from the hospital records, using the Hospital Information System database of KKUH. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During this period, stools examination was carried out for a total of 63,892 patients, 1480 (2.3%) were positive for different intestinal parasites. Giardia lamblia was the most commonly reported parasite. The annual positivity rate for parasitic infections has decreased from 2.9-1.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study was limited to hospital patients, comparison with previous reports indicates an overall decrease in the prevalence of intestinal infections in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ikhalife@ksu.edu.sa
authors.forename: Ibrahim S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Alkhalife
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors