A study of common parasites associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia in pediatric cases attending a tertiary care institute
Journal Title: Medpulse International Journal of Pediatrics - Year 2018, Vol 5, Issue 2
Abstract
Background: Eosinophils are a striking feature of many parasitic diseases. Helminthic infections are the most common parasitic diseases that produce osinophilia in tropical countries. But the significance of association of high absolute eosinophilia with non-helminthic parasitic diseases is varied. Aim and Objective: The present study was aimed to identify common parasites associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia in pediatric cases, attending a tertiary care center in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh with objective of determining the prevalence of various parasitic infections among children with peripheral blood eosinophilia. Materials and Method: In the present cross-sectional observational study children ≤14 years of age with absolute eosinophil count ≥440/μL, in routine blood counts were enrolled. Three consecutive stool samples were collected from children and dispatched to the microbiology laboratory. Faecal samples were inspected with naked eyes followed by microscopic examination using normal saline and lugol’s iodine mounts on grease free slides. The findings observed in stool samples were recorded on the proforma. Peripheral blood smears were also prepared from the blood samples of participating children to detect microfilaria larva. Results: Out of 384 participants, 326 belonged in the range of mild eosinophilia, 50 in moderate eosinophilia and 8 in severe eosinophilia range. The prevalence of parasitic infection was 7% (27 out of 384 children). Out of 326 children of mild eosinophilia, 24 (7.4%) children had been detected with parasites in their faecal samples. Among the moderate eosinophilic children prevalence was 6%. In severe eosinophilic category none of them showed parasites in their stool samples. The association between mild, moderate and severe eosinophilia and parasitic findings was statistically non-significant (p=0.95).Out of total 27 children showing parasitic infection 2 children showed mixed type of infection while remaining 25 children harboured only one type of parasite in their stool samples. The most common parasite observed was Giardia lamblia (8 in single type and one case in mixed type). Among 223 male patients, 13 were positive cases (5.8%) and among 161 female patients, 14 were positive cases (8.7%). In the age group of 0-5 years of age 5.5% children harboured parasites. Among 6-10 years of age 9.3% children were found with parasites in their stool specimen. Conclusion: Thus we conclude that the prevalence of parasitic infection in children with eosinophilia was 7%. Commonly encountered parasites in the present study was cysts/ trophozoites of Giardia lamblia (2.3%), cysts/trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica (2.1%), ova of Hymenolepis nana (1.8%), cysts of Blastocystis hominis (1.3%), and trophozoites of Trichomonas hominis (0.3%). The parasitic infection was seen commonly among females of 6-10 years of age group.
Authors and Affiliations
Sana Jamali, Anil Kumar, Nadia Irshad
Keywords
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