1.Intestinal parasitic infections frequency in referred patients to a large teaching hospital, Khuzestan, Southwest, Iran, 2017
Feiz Haddad, M.H. ; Maraghi, S. ; Ali, S.A. ; Feiz Haddad, R. ; Nasser Zadeh, R.
Tropical Biomedicine 2018;35(4):915-925
Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the most important infectious
diseases in Iran. A cross sectional study was designed to determine frequency of intestinal
parasites among referrals to a large teaching hospital in Khuzestan, Southwest of Iran,
2017. A total number of 5613 stool samples were examined through direct smear and
formalin-ether concentration methods to detect possible parasitic infections. Samples
consisted of 2643 (47.09%) male and 2970 (52.91%) female. A total of 1468 (26.15%)
samples were positive (13.11% male and 13.4% female) and 4145 (73.85%) were negative.
The results also showed that 255 of samples had more than one type of parasite (mix
infections). Counting single and mix parasite infections, the total number of positive cases
reached to 1723. Helminthes parasites were present in 12 (0.7%) cases, while intestinal
protozoan parasites were in 1711 (99.3%) cases. Almost equally, pathogenic and nonpathogenic
parasites infected 860 (49.91%) and 863 (50.09%) of patients, respectively. The
frequency for helminthes was determined at 0.52% with Hymenolepis nana and Enterobius
vermicularis however, Giardia lamblia in 38.54% and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar at
10.68% were concluded as protozoa elements. The IPIs frequency was recorded in female
and male patients at 49.16% and 50.14%, respectively. According to the current results the
infection rate of intestinal parasites has been significantly reduced especially for helminths
infections in this region possibly due to public attention to health issues such as; increased
awareness of people, improvement of sanitation, seasonal variations, health education
and personal hygiene.