title: Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal parasites are important contributors to the global disease burden, especially in children of low-income countries. The present study determined the frequency of intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the diarrhea section of the Infectious-Contagious Diseases ward and at the Malnutrition ward of the Department of Pediatrics of the Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study conducted between February and March 2009 enrolled a total of 93 children between 1.5 and 48.2 months of age; 87.1% were younger than 24 months. Parasite detection in stool samples was achieved using direct microscopic observation and Ritchie's concentration technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infection with pathogenic intestinal parasites was detected in 16.1% (15/93) of the children. Giardia duodenalis and Trichuris trichiura were the most common parasites (6.5%, 6/93 each), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (2.2%, 2/93). One case of mixed infection with A. lumbricoides plus T. trichiura was also detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reinforces the importance of routinely examining stool samples for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites (including protozoa) in children hospitalized in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Clínica Tropical, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. amfonseca5@msn.com.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Natercia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Filipa S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Centeno-Lima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016829:Giardia lamblia; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D009073:Mozambique / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000453:epidemiology