The prevalence of intestinal parasitic protozoan among patients in Ad-Dawadimi General Hospital, Saudi Arabia
- Author:
Alanazi, A.D.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2017;34(2):453-460
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Intestinal parasitic protozoan diseases in Saudi Arabia are a significant public
health problem with prevalence ranging from 4.1% to 42%. This study was carried out to
determine the risk factors associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasitic protozoan
infections among patients in Ad-Dawadimi General Hospital, Saudi Arabia. This study was
conducted from the 1st of January to the end of December 2015. Faecal specimens from
4,000 patients who were admitted to Ad-Dawadimi General Hospital during the study period
were analyzed by the formal-ether concentration technique to detect trophozoites and cysts
of Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. Ziehl-Neelsen staining was used to detect
Cryptosporidium oocysts. Overall, intestinal parasitic protozoans were found in 470 patients
(11.75%). The infection rate of Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp. and Entamoeba
histolytica/dispar was 5%, 4.3% and 2.5%, respectively. Infection among males was (8.4%),
while among females it was (3.4%). Age, gender and season were highly significant factors on
the prevalence of parasites infection at P <0.005. However, the present study indicated that
intestinal parasitic protozoan infections are still a public health problem in Saudi Arabia.
- Full text:P020170616561160826806.pdf
