Role of parasites among chronic diarrheic patients

This work studied the role of parasitic infection among 85 chronic diarrheic patients in Delta region and cross-matched 20 normal controls. They were subjected to thorough history taking and clinical examination and stool examination by direct smear, formol-ether concentration, simple sedimentation, simple floatation and Kato-katz thick smear. Questionnaire sheet was obtained for each case included personal history, complaint, present as well as past history and family history. The results showed that 67.1% of patients suffered from parasites versus 20% in controls. They included giardiasis mixed with hymenolepiasis nana, ameobiasis; ascariaisis, S.mansoni, heterophyiasis, B. hominis, Taenia spp and enterobiasis respectively. Single infection represented 54.2 %, while mixed ones were 12.9% of total chronic diarrhea cases and non-parasitic causes were responsible for 32.9%. Mixed infection was common in A. lumbricoides with E.histolytica [18.18%] and H. nana with G. lambia [27.28%]. The diarrhea duration was longer in mixed infections [3 months], E.histolytica [2 months] and H.nana [1.5 months]. Commonest symptom other than diarrhea was abdominal pain mainly in mixed parasitosis. Parasitic diarrhea was more common in males than females [1.28: 1]. Chronic parasitic diarrhea was most prevalent among low social class [49 or 57.6%] followed by very low social class [20 or 23.5%], middle social class [10 or 11.7%] and finally high social class [6 or 7.1%] with significant increase in low social class as compared to high one, and most prevalent among positive cases in rural area than in urban area

Malaria in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen: a clinical pilot study

Imported malaria is a health problem and needs continuous monitoring as many clinicians are not aware of it. In Yemen malaria is the main public health problem. Malaria cases were 16 in Almaza Military Fever Hospital, Cairo, 53 in Saudi Hospital at Pilgrimage, Yemen and in Saber Hospital at Aden, Yemen were studied. 9 cases [56.2%] of P. falciparum in Cairo were imported and 7 cases [43.8%] acquired P. vivax locally [October 2003 to July 2004]. They were all treated successfully by chloroquine. An imported case [6.3%] died by cerebral malaria due to delayed diagnosis. Five imported cases [31.3%] had severe malaria. In Pilgrimage, an infant [1.9%] had congenital malaria, 17 cases [32.1%] had severe malaria and 2 [3.8%] died by cerebral malaria. 43 patients [81.1%] had P. falciparum and 10 patients [18.9%] had P. vivax. All patients were treated by parenteral or oral quinine. In Aden, one patient [5%] suffered diarrhea without fever, early blood film was negative, and was positive later on. 18 cases [90%] had P. falciparum, 2 [10%] had P. vivax. 4 cases [20%] had severe malaria and a patient [5%] died by cerebral malaria. Patients in Aden severe cases were successfully treated by intramuscular artemether followed by oral Fansidar, and mild ones were treated by oral Quartem