Cryptosporidiosis and other intestinal parasitic infections in patients with chronic diarrhea
Mahdi, N.K.; Ali, N.H.
Saudi Medical Journal 25(9): 1204-1207
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-5284 PMID: 15448766 Document Number: 566970
Objective: To consider the relationship of parasitic infections, including Cryptosporidium, with chronic diarrhoea, as well as the effect of chronic diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), and nosocomial infection, on the occurrence rate of parasites in cases of chronic diarrhoea. Methods: Faecal samples were collected from 205 patients in teaching, general, child and maternity hospitals in Basrah, Iraq, suffering from chronic diarrhoea during 2000. Out of these patients, there were 40 patients with pulmonary TB and 50 inpatients with nosocomial infection. 175 apparently healthy individuals who had no episodes of diarrhoea for at least 2-months served as control group. Direct smear method and then formalin ether sedimentation method were carried out for faecal samples to detect intestinal parasites. Faecal smears were prepared from the sediment and stained by modified Ziehl Neelsen stain for recovery of red pink oocysts of Cryptosporidium. Results: Out of 205 examined patients, Cryptosporidium oocysts were excreted in 20 (9.7%) patients compared to 1.1% of the control group. The difference was statistically significant. There were 109 (53.2%) patients positive for intestinal parasitic infections compared to 26 (14.8%) of the control group. The difference is also statistically significant. Out of the 40 TB patients, 2 (5%) excreted Cryptosporidium oocysts and 27 (67.3%) were positive for intestinal parasites. In addition, there were 4 (8%) excreting Cryptosporidium oocysts and 23 (46%) infected by intestinal parasites among the in-patients with nosocomial infection. Conclusion: Both acid and non-acid fast parasites should be considered in the differential diagnosis of undiagnosed chronic diarrhoea especially among patients with pulmonary TB or nosocomial infection.