Detection of Cryptosporidium spp and other intestinal parasites in children with acute diarrhea and severe dehydration in Rio de Janeiro

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2007 May-Jun;40(3):346-8. doi: 10.1590/s0037-86822007000300020.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to estimate the frequency of infection by Cryptosporidium spp and other intestinal parasites in dehydrated children with gastroenteritis who were admitted to a pediatric hospital. Stool examinations from 218 children were performed. Cryptosporidium spp was identified in eighteen out of 193 stool samples (9.3%) subjected to safranin-methylene blue staining. Giardia lamblia was detected in ten out of 213 (4.7%) samples examined via the direct or Ritchie methods. Other parasites identified were Ascaris lumbricoides (4.2%), Blastocystis hominis (1.4%), Entamoeba coli (0.9%), Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (0.5%), Endolimax nana (0.5%), Trichuris trichiura (0.5%) and Enterobius vermicularis (0.5%).

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cryptosporidium / isolation & purification
  • Dehydration / etiology*
  • Dehydration / therapy
  • Diarrhea / complications
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea / parasitology*
  • Eukaryota / isolation & purification
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Fluid Therapy
  • Gastroenteritis / complications
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis / parasitology*
  • Helminthiasis / complications
  • Helminthiasis / epidemiology
  • Helminthiasis / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Protozoan Infections / complications
  • Protozoan Infections / epidemiology
  • Protozoan Infections / parasitology*
  • Severity of Illness Index