Prevalence and laboratory diagnosis of intestinal Protozoa in children under 10 years (Amoebiasis and Giardiasis) In Al-Mansor General Hospital for Pediatric/ Baghdad

During the period from September 2007 till December 2007, a total of two hundred samples were collected randomly from children patient attended to Al-Mansour General Hospital for Pediatric in Baghdad to determine the prevalence of intestinal protozoa (E. histolytica and G. lamblia) among patients with diarrhea or abdominal symptoms referred from the out patients. General stool examination was preformed for all individuals included in the study. The direct smear method by normal saline 0.9% Nacl and iodine-lugol solution staining method was used. Also complete blood picture test was preformed for all patients to evaluate, PCV, total white blood cell count, differential white blood cell count. It was found that the total prevalence rate of (E. histolytica and G. lamblia) infection was (34.5%) of which E. histolytica patients was (27.5%) and G. lamblia patients was 7% E. histolytica was significantly more common (45%) in school age children (6-10) years, while G. lamblia was more frequent 53.3% in preschool age 1-5 years. Mean of haemoglobuline level 10.36 for E. histolytica, while mean of haemoglobuline level 9.73 for G. lamblia. As a result, infections with intestinal protozoa dose not lead to anemia in great percentage, but in low percentage. Bloody stool was associated with positive stool for E. histolytica trophozoites and cyst, while isolation of G. lamblia had no association with bloody stool.