Intestinal protozoa and intestinal helminthic infections among schoolchildren in El dhayga, Central Sudan

A cross-sectional study was carried- out to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and soil-transmitted helminths [STHs] among primary schoolchildren in El dhayga, Central Sudan. In total, 142 [90.4%] of 157 children harboured at least one type of intestinal parasite. Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis nana, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia were the most common parasites found, with prevalence rates of 32.5%, 30.6%, 33.1 and 19.7%, respectively. Out of these 157, 29[18.5%] children harboured >/= two intestinal parasitic infections. No cases of Schistosoma mansoni or Enterobius vermicularis were identified. Thus, our study demonstrates significant burden of intestinal protozoa and STH infections in this part of Sudan and highlights the need for preventive and intervention measures

Role of m. pneumoniae in acute lower respiratory tract infection in children

This study was carried out on 120 children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection, their ages ranged from 1-12 years, and 53 healthy children of the same age groups were included as controls. Detection of M. pneumonia was done by culture of nasopharyngeal aspirate on spiroplasma broth [Sp4] and by serologic methods [CF and ELISA]. In this study, M. pneumoniae was detected in 23.3% of all the children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection and 7.5% of normal healthy controls. M. pneumoniae infection was most common in the age group 4-10 years [33%] followed by those aging 10-12 years [20%]. The incidence was low in children < 4 years [6.6%] compared to the other groups. The most common symptoms and signs were cough, fever, constitutional symptoms, rales and wheeze. Bronchopneumonic infiltrate and lobar consolidation were the most common radiological findings