First report of cryptosporidiosis among Iraqi children

Of 240 Iraqi children under five years old with a primary diagnosis of gastroenteritis and dehydration, 22 were excreting Cryptosporidium oocysts in their stools. This is the first reported occurrence of cryptosporidiosis among Iraqi schoolchildren. Samples were collected and examined by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen method between March and November 1994. The frequency distribution of Cryptosporidium among 114 positive cases with intestinal parasites was 18.3%. The boy-to-girl ratio was 1:2 among the Cryptosporidium-positive children. Most patients complained of abdominal colic and watery diarrhoea and were clinically dehydrated. The associated symptoms were fever and vomiting. Cryptosporidium and Giardia appeared to be associated

Risk factors of acute respiratory infection among hospitalised children in Basrah: a case control study

A case control study was carried out to investigate the role of selected presumed risk factors in the occurrence of acute respiratory infection [ARI] among hospitalised children below the age of five years in Basrah, Iraq. Controls were children of similar age range attending for routine immunisation schedule. The main factors which ere found to be associated with significant risk of ARI were: parental illiteracy, presence of a sibling with ARI during the month prior to admission of the child, admission of a sibling below the age of five years to hospital for ARI during the previous year, use of kerosene for cooking and mother's employment. Father's smoking, crowding and use of kerosene for heating were not found to be significantly associated with ARI among children