Study of Incidence and Spectrum of Intestinal Parasitic Infestation using Formalin Ethyl Acetate Sedimentation Technique among Children and Its Correlation with Anaemia
Syeda Nazia Kulsum1, T. Andra Chadha2 and Nawaz Umar11K.B.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga - 585 104 India. 2S.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Eranakulum - 682 026, India.
Abstract: Parasitic infections cause human suffering and economic loss worldwide but the burden is greatest in under developed countries. Among the effects associated with these parasites are growth retardation, intestinal obstruction, hepatic and biliary diseases, impaired cognitive development and nutritional effects such as iron deficiency anemia. Children because of their habits and opportunity for exposure easily acquire these infestations and are likely to manifest acute syndromes due to ill developed immunity and lack of tolerance against these worms. In the view of above facts, the present study was under taken. A total of 700 stool samples were examined by Gross examination, direct microscopic examination by saline and iodine preparations, to increase sensitivity of microscopic detection Formalin – Ethyl acetate sedimentation technique was employed. An attempt was made to identify Cryptosporidium species by using modified acid fast stain and sheather’s sugar floatation technique. 5)700 blood samples were examined by cell counter to detect Hb and blood indices to know presence of anaemia. The incidence of intestinal parasitic infestation was 173 (24.71%) cases. The most common parasite found was H. nana 49 (7.0%) followed by Ascaris 42 (6.0%), E. histolytica 36 (5.1%), Trichuris 34 (4.9%), Giardia 5 (0.7%), hookworm 3 (0.4%) and Taenia species and E. vermicularis 2 (0.3%) cases respectively. Formalin – ethyl acetate concentration technique has increased sensitivity of intestinal parasite detection from 148 (21.14%) by routine method to 173 (24.71%) cases. Majority of children (122) positive for intestinal parasitic infestation were having anaemia. No sample was found to have Cryptosporidium species. Thus public health education, routine periodic screening, early detection, prompt therapy and interruption of transmission of the pathogens may help mitigate the impact of childhood intestinal parasitosis.
Keywords: Intestinal parasitosis; Formalin Ethyl Acetate; Sedimentation; Hymenolepis nana; Entamoeba histolytica; Enterobius vermicularis Back to TOC