Open AccessFirst report of cryptosporidiosis among Iraqi children
Author(s) -
Nadham K. Mahdi,
Imad Al Sadoon,
Adel T. Mohamed
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/1996.2.1.115
Subject(s) - cryptosporidium , vomiting , diarrhea , giardia , medicine , girl , abdominal pain , pediatrics , gastroenterology , feces , veterinary medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
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