|
RESULTS
In this survey, 912 questionnaires were completed from the five health
regions. The mean age ( ±SD) of all the subjects was 29.5 age (±14.4)
years. The adult patients were 762 ( 83.6 %), and the children
150(16.4%) with mean age ( ±SD) 33.9(±11.6) and 7.5(±2.8) years,
respectively. Of all subjects 607, (66.6%) were males and
305(33.4%) females. 354 (38.8%) were Kuwaitis and 558 (61.2%) were
non-Kuwaitis . Based on stool examination, 255(28%) were positive for parasitic infection. No significant differences were noticed in the
prevalence of infection in both, gender and nationality. It was
significantly higher among children (p<0.001). The prevalence in
relation to socio-economic variables and in different health
regions has been presented in Table 1. Parasitic infection rate was
inversely proportionate to level of education (p<0.001) It was more
in patients with low family income (p<0.016).and also among
singles (p<0.001).The highest prevalence of infected patients was
found in Al-Ahmadi (49%) and Al-Jahra (47%) health regions, followed by Hawalli, (39%) Farwaniya and
Capital regions, with16% each .
Our results showed that Enterobius vermicularis, 69 (27.1%) was the most
common parasite.Detected were adult female warms seen most of the time microscopically. This was followed by Entamoeba histolitica 54 (21.2%),
Entamoeba coli 43 (16.9%), Giardia lamblia 29 (11.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides
22 (8.6%). Blastocystic homoni 10 (4%), Schistosoma mansoni and Iodamoeba
butschlin 6 (2.4%) each , Trichomonas hominis 5 (2.0%) , and one (0.4%) each
of Endolimax nana and Ancylostoma duodenale (table 2). The most common type of parasite found in children was Enterobius vermicularis 74.6% followed by
Giardia lamblia 11.9%, whereas the most common parasite found in adults was
Entamoeba histolitica 26% followed by Entamoeba coli (21%). The other common parasites among adults were Enterobius vermicularis (12.8%), Giardia
lamblia (11.2%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (9.7%). Among children, Enterobius
vermicularis was significantly higher (p<0.001) , whereas Entamoeba histolitica
and Entamoeba coli were significant higher (p<0.001) in adults.
Certain type of
parasitic infections were only seen in adults (Table 2) .
BACK
NEXT
|
|
| Table. 1 Prevalence
of parasitic
infection according to certain Socio-economic
Characteristics.
|
| Characteristic |
N
(912)
% |
infected
(n) % |
p-value |
Gender
Male
Female |
607 66.6
305 33.4 |
167
18.3
88
9.6 |
>0.05 |
Nationality
Kuwaiti
Non-Kuwaiti |
354 38.8
558 61.2 |
108
11.8
147
16.1 |
>0.05 |
Age-group
Children
Adults |
150 16.4
762 83.6 |
59
6.5
196
21.5
|
0.0001 |
Education level
Illiterate
Primary/intermediate
Secondary
University & above |
180 19.7
455 49.9
204 22.4
73 8 (3) |
80
8.8
139
15.2
33
3.6 |
0.001 |
Family income
Low
Middle
High |
623 68.3
256 28.1
33 3.6 |
181
19.8
72
7.9
2
0.2 |
0.016 |
Marital status
Married
Unmarried |
259 28.4
653 71.6 |
39
4.3
216
23.7 |
0.001 |
Health region
Capital
Hawalli
Farwaniya
Al-Ahmadi
Al-Jahra |
209 23.0
160 17.5
313 34.3
73 8
157 17.2 |
33
3.6
62
6.8
50
5.5
36
4.0
74
8.1 |
0.001 |
DISCUSSION
The
survey of patients attending clinics for gastrointestinal symptoms showed
that the prevalence of different types of parasitic infection was 28.0%.
Ahmed
S. et al [6]
in
their studies showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasites
among Saudi and non- Saudi patients, who were examined between 1989
and 1992, was 16.7%
.
Another
study done on school adolescents in Nepal showed
40% to be positive for
parasites[7]
. A study done in Gaza to determine
the
prevalence of |