A Study on Intestinal Parasites that Cause Diarrhea and Some of Physiological Effects on Children in Baghdad

Abstract

Abstract    

In developing nations, such as Iraq, diarrhea is the main cause of sickness and mortalities in children under the age of five, Diarrhea is the augmentation of water content in stools because of an imbalance in the normal functioning of physiologic processes of the small and large intestine responsible for the absorption of various ions, other substrates, and consequently water. The most common cause of diarrhea is eating foods that upset the digestive system ,allergies and intolerances to certain foods (Celiac disease), malabsorption of food (poor absorption). Numerous infections, such as viruses, bacterium, and parasites, are responsible for its development. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of intestinal parasite (IP) infections, kinds and it physiological effects on children under the age of five who had diarrheal diseases.

Methods: A cross-sectional research study was carried out in Baghdad, Iraq (al mahmoudia and other Hospitals), between September 2021 and January 2023. The analysis comprised youngsters under the age of nine who attended healthcare facilities during the observation period and had diarrhea. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and risk factors for intestinal parasite infections (IPIs). As per usual practices, single, fresh stool samples were used to check for IPs utilizing the direct wet mount investigation and Ziehl-Neelsen staining of formyl-ether concentrated specimens. SPSS software for Statistics version 20 was used to analyze the data.

Results: 150 kids in all—32.67% boys and 67.3 girls participated in the investigation. In total, there were 41/150 IPs, or 27.3% of the population. In six youngsters (4%) there were two species of IPs found. Giardia lamblia was the parasite that was discovered the most frequently (8%), followed by Enterobius vermicularis (6.7%). After adjusting for other factors, the multivariable findings suggest that ≥age 24 months was a factor in IPIs (AOR=0.332, 95%CI: 0.094-0.465). Conclusion: This research discovered that children with diarrheal illnesses frequently had intestinal parasites. The Giardia lamblia genotype was the one that was found most commonly. Parents of young children ought to get health advice on how to avoid diarrheal infections generally and IPIs particularly.