[Digestive parasitic diseases in young children in a tropical outpatient setting].

Parasites were looked for in stools of infants aged 6 months to 3 years living in a village in the south of Togo. These children were enrolled in a nutritional surveillance program. 42.5% of children harboured at least one parasite and 12.1% had more than one parasite: The most common parasites found included Giardia (21%), Ancylostoma (13%), and Ascaris (12.5%). Infection with a single parasite and infection with several parasites were observed from the age of nine months and 18 months, respectively; the incidence of these infections increased with advancing age. The incidence of diarrheal stools decreased with advancing age and no particular parasite seemed to be directly and exclusively responsible for diarrhea. The distribution of parasites and diarrheal symptoms were not influenced by sex. No correlation was found between nutritional status and presence of a parasitic infection or diarrhea. After treatment, reinfection with Ancylostoma (65%), whipworm (50%), and Giardia (34.2%) were common.