Intestinal parasitosis among Yemeni patients with cancer, Sana'a, Yemen

J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2012 Dec;42(3):727-34. doi: 10.12816/0006356.

Abstract

The profile of intestinal parasitosis was assessed among patients on anticancer chemotherapy in Sana'a city, Yemen during the period from April to December 2011. A total of 206 patients (115 males & 91 females), aged 3 to 18 years with mean of 14.17 +/- 3.13 were subjected to stool examinations by different techniques. The overall rate of intestinal parasites was 63.1%. Cryptosporidium parvum was the highest (30.1%) followed by G. lamblia (18.0%) and then C. cayetanensis (5.3%). Blastocystis hominis and E. histolytica/dispar were detected in 4.9% & 2.4% respectively. E. coli, H. nana and A. lumbricoides were diagnosed in an equal of 1.5% and S. stercoralis was seen in one case only. The majority of infected patients suffered from diarrhea. They showed 4.64 risk of protozoan infections compared to those who passed formed stool with statistically significant difference. Diarrhea was associated with higher risk of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis (OR = 2.73 & 2.67 respectively). The risk of intestinal parasitosis neither differed significantly with patients' age nor sex.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / complications
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology*
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / immunology
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Yemen / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents