Parasitic causes of hepatomegaly in children

ABSTRACT

Three hundred children with hepatomegaly were selected and subjected to full clinical and laboratory examinations. Also, serum samples were examined to detect IgG using ELISA against SEA, chromatography purified hydatid cyst antigen, commercially available Toxoplasma antigen, partially purified adult antigen fasciola and second- stage larvae Toxocara canis antigen. IFAT was used to detect IgG against Toxoplasma and T. canis and a commercially available IHAT kit for leishmaniasis was used. Based on immunological assays, 125 cases were suffering from various parasitic infections; 30 cases with schistosomiasis, 26 cases fascioliasis, 18 Toxocariasis, 35 toxoplasmosis, 3 cases hydatidosis and 13 cases mixed parasitic infections. No parasitic causes could be found in 175 cases. It was concluded that parasitic infections should be considered as important causes of liver enlargement in children; and serological methods using purified antigenic fractions are important tools for diagnosis