Frequency of Giardia lamblia among children in Dohuk, northern Iraq

Out of 1261 stool specimens collected from children in Dohuk city, northern Iraq, the prevallence of Giardia lamblia infection was 38.5%. The highest rate of infection was in orphan care centres (48.1%) and the lowest in the paediatric hospital (31.3%). The age group 10–12 years had the highest rate (81.2%) and 7–9 years the lowest (22.9%); boys had a higher rate than girls. Some infected sampples (70/486) showed double or triple infections and G. lamblia was combined with Hymenolepis nana, Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Iodamoeba buetschlii.