title: Different profile of intestinal protozoa and helminthic infections among patients with diarrhoea according to age attending a rural hospital in southern Ethiopia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the association of intestinal parasitic diseases with age and gender in patients with diarrhea attending a rural hospital in southern Ethiopia in the period 2007-2012. A total of 32,191 stool examination was performed in patients who presented with diarrhea. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites in the present study was 26.5%. Predominant parasites detected were Giardia lamblia (15.0%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (5.4%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (5.0%). The median of age of diarrheal patients with Hymenolepis species, Schistosoma mansoni and G. lamblia was significantly lower (5 y., 10.5 y., and 18 y., respectively; p<0.001). The median age of diarrheal patients with Taenia species, S. stercoralis, and E. histolytica/dispar was significantly higher (24 y., 24 y., and 20 y., respectively; p<0.01). In conclusion, Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent intestinal parasite and the profile of intestinal parasitic infections is influenced by age.
authors.affiliation: Gambo Rural General Hospital, PO Box 121 Shasehmane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergencies, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Carrer Sant Quintí, 89, 08026 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Valero
authors.affiliation: Gambo Rural General Hospital, PO Box 121 Shasehmane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tisiano
authors.affiliation: Gambo Rural General Hospital, PO Box 121 Shasehmane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Haji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fano
authors.affiliation: Gambo Rural General Hospital, PO Box 121 Shasehmane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tafese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yohannes
authors.affiliation: Gambo Rural General Hospital, PO Box 121 Shasehmane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ashenafi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gosa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Molinette Hospital, Corso Lazzari Francesco Detto Il Bramant, 10100 Turín Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fruttero
authors.affiliation: Gambo Rural General Hospital, PO Box 121 Shasehmane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Av. Reyes Católicos 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Górgolas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult