[The distribution of intestinal parasites detected in the Uludag University Medical School Hospital between 2005 and 2008].

OBJECTIVE

Intestinal parasite infection is still an important public health problem. In this study, patients (outpatients and in-patients) with various gastrointestinal system complaints presenting at various clinics of the Uludag University Medical Faculty, from January 2009-December 2010 were investigated retrospectively for intestinal parasites.

METHODS

Parasitological examinations were done with native-lugol, cellophane-tape methods and trichrome staining in ambiguous cases. Also modified Erlich-Ziehl-Nielsen staining was used to identify Cryptosporidium spp.

RESULTS

In a total of 5,624 cases examined 10.25% were found infected with at least one or more parasite, without difference between genders. Enterobius vermicularis eggs (9.3%) was detected in 227 of 1,971 cellophane tape preparations. The distribution of identified parasites was as follows: Giardia intestinalis, 199 (34.48%); 29 Blastocystis hominis, 136 (23.57%); Entamoeba coli, 83 (14.38%); Enterobius vermicularis, 227 (9.3%). The prevalence of parasite infections in stool samples examined was highest among the age group of 10-29 years old (36.8%), followed by the age group 0-9 years, in which rate was 18.6%. Parasites such as helminth detected in 225 (32.09%) and protozoon in 476 (67.91%) of the patients were included in this study.

CONCLUSION

This study re-emphasises the fact that intestinal parasitic infection is still an important public health problem.