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Infection with Lamblia Intestinalis in Children: its Clinical Significance and Treatment
Author(s) -
BÖE JOHS.,
RINVIK ROALD
Publication year - 1943
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1943.tb16216.x
Subject(s) - medicine , physical examination , diarrhea , alimentary tract , stomach , malaria , surgery , gastroenterology , pediatrics , pathology
Summary. The examination of 402 children ranging between the ages of 1 and 12 years revealed that there was presence of infection with Lamblia intestinalis in 31 of these—7.7 per cent—a frequency of infection which is in full agreement with the findings of a previous investigation carried out in Norway. On the basis of a careful comparative study of the laboratory and clinical findings, the authors have attempted to throw some light on the pathogenic character of the Lamblia. 22 of the 31 Lamblia‐infected cases were subjected to a careful clinical examination. 13 of these had come to the hospital on account of symptoms of the alimentary tract. 16 of the 22 instances gave a history of diarrhea , which had proved resistant to routine treatment and which in some cases had been persisting for years (in 9 cases for more than 1 year and in 6 of these for more than 4 years). The routine clinical examination, the roentgen examination of the alimentary tract, examination of the stomach as well as stool tests and blood counts did not reveal anything specially characteristic with respect to these patients. The majority of the cases were treated with acranil, some of them with the malaria drug atebrine, and in the course of 2–3 days the Lamblia had completely disappeared from the stools and was not demonstrable at control examinations 4 to 6 months later. At a renewed control examination 6 to 12 months after treatment, 4 cases gave fresh evidence of the presence of Lamblia in their stools. Most likely a fresh infection had occurred in these cases. The clinical findings and the results of the treatment furnished evidence that there was definite improvement in 5 of the 12 cases which manifested symptoms referable to an infection with Lamblia, and of these, 2 gave proofs of complete cure. In these five cases Lamblia‐infection seemed to have been the definite underlying cause of the symptoms manifested. Considering the relative frequency of the Lamblia‐infection, it results from these findings that the group of infected individuals justifying treatment is by no means insignificative. Patients manifesting indefinite symptoms from the alimentary tract should be examined for the presence of Lamblia intestinalis, especially if they give a history of diarrhea of long duration. The drugs administered in the course of this investigation appear to have a specific effect and did not prove toxic.