1. Intestinal parasitic co-infections associated with Helicobacter pylori among paediatric patients with gastrointestinal illness attending a general hospital in southern Ethiopia.
- Author
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Aklilu A, Woldemariam M, Wanke E, Seid M, Manilal A, Khan JM, and Akbar I
- Subjects
- Humans, Ethiopia epidemiology, Female, Male, Cross-Sectional Studies, Child, Prevalence, Child, Preschool, Adolescent, Hospitals, General, Infant, Feces parasitology, Feces microbiology, Gastrointestinal Diseases epidemiology, Gastrointestinal Diseases microbiology, Gastrointestinal Diseases parasitology, Helicobacter Infections epidemiology, Helicobacter Infections complications, Helicobacter pylori isolation & purification, Coinfection epidemiology, Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: Concurrent infections or co-infections caused by intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori are quite rampant in paediatrics living in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, and if left untreated, can result in severe complications and hence must be addressed to ensure their health and well-being., Objectives: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic and H. pylori co-infections and associated factors among paediatric patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who attended the Arba Minch General Hospital (AMGH), Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia, from September to November 2020., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a study population of 299 paediatric patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who visited AMGH. Stool samples were collected and analysed to detect H. pylori and intestinal parasites. A rapid lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay was employed to identify the H. pylori copra antigen, whereas the latter was detected using wet mount saline preparation and formol-ether concentration method. Socio-demographic, clinical, behavioural and other factors were obtained by means of a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were done by Statistical Package for Social Service (SPSS) version 25; P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasites was 14% (n = 42) and 37.1% (n = 111), respectively, whereas that of the co-infections with these pathogens was 6.4% (n = 19). Giardia lamblia was the most prevailing parasite, 21.4% (n = 64). Informal maternal education [AOR = 5.14; 95% CI: 1.98-15.70] and lack of hand washing practice were significantly associated with the extent of co-infections [AOR = 4.18; 95% CI: 1.36-12.80]., Conclusion: Nearly one in twenty pediatric patients with gastrointestinal symptoms had intestinal parasitic infections and H. pylori co-infections, representing a silent health problem that is to be addressed through effective control strategies. Health administrators should consider the importance of co-infections in clinical diagnosis and planning aimed at its prevention., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
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