Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique

Introduction: Intestinal parasites are important contributors to the global disease burden, especially in children of low-income countries. The present study determined the frequency of intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the diarrhea section of the Infectious-Contagious Diseases ward...

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Main Authors: Ana Maria Fonseca, Natercia Fernandes, Filipa S Ferreira, Joana Gomes, Sónia Centeno-Lima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2014-06-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3916
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author Ana Maria Fonseca
Natercia Fernandes
Filipa S Ferreira
Joana Gomes
Sónia Centeno-Lima
author_facet Ana Maria Fonseca
Natercia Fernandes
Filipa S Ferreira
Joana Gomes
Sónia Centeno-Lima
author_sort Ana Maria Fonseca
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Intestinal parasites are important contributors to the global disease burden, especially in children of low-income countries. The present study determined the frequency of intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the diarrhea section of the Infectious-Contagious Diseases ward and at the Malnutrition ward of the Department of Pediatrics of the Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique. Methodology: This pilot study conducted between February and March 2009 enrolled a total of 93 children between 1.5 and 48.2 months of age; 87.1% were younger than 24 months. Parasite detection in stool samples was achieved using direct microscopic observation and Ritchie’s concentration technique. Results: Infection with pathogenic intestinal parasites was detected in 16.1% (15/93) of the children. Giardia duodenalis and Trichuris trichiura were the most common parasites (6.5%, 6/93 each), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (2.2%, 2/93). One case of mixed infection with A. lumbricoides plus T. trichiura was also detected. Conclusion: This study reinforces the importance of routinely examining stool samples for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites (including protozoa) in children hospitalized in endemic areas.
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issn 1972-2680
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publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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spelling doaj-art-a689ad335e014cdba759593cbdc404ba2025-08-20T02:27:15ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802014-06-0180610.3855/jidc.3916Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, MozambiqueAna Maria Fonseca0Natercia Fernandes1Filipa S Ferreira2Joana Gomes3Sónia Centeno-Lima4Unidade de Clínica Tropical, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, PortugalFaculdade de Medicina, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, MozambiqueUnidade de Clínica Tropical, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, PortugalUnidade de Clínica Tropical, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, PortugalUnidade de Clínica Tropical, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, PortugalIntroduction: Intestinal parasites are important contributors to the global disease burden, especially in children of low-income countries. The present study determined the frequency of intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the diarrhea section of the Infectious-Contagious Diseases ward and at the Malnutrition ward of the Department of Pediatrics of the Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique. Methodology: This pilot study conducted between February and March 2009 enrolled a total of 93 children between 1.5 and 48.2 months of age; 87.1% were younger than 24 months. Parasite detection in stool samples was achieved using direct microscopic observation and Ritchie’s concentration technique. Results: Infection with pathogenic intestinal parasites was detected in 16.1% (15/93) of the children. Giardia duodenalis and Trichuris trichiura were the most common parasites (6.5%, 6/93 each), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (2.2%, 2/93). One case of mixed infection with A. lumbricoides plus T. trichiura was also detected. Conclusion: This study reinforces the importance of routinely examining stool samples for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites (including protozoa) in children hospitalized in endemic areas. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3916intestinal parasiteschildrenMozambique
spellingShingle Ana Maria Fonseca
Natercia Fernandes
Filipa S Ferreira
Joana Gomes
Sónia Centeno-Lima
Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
intestinal parasites
children
Mozambique
title Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique
title_full Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique
title_fullStr Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique
title_full_unstemmed Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique
title_short Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique
title_sort intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the central hospital in maputo mozambique
topic intestinal parasites
children
Mozambique
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3916
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AT filipasferreira intestinalparasitesinchildrenhospitalizedatthecentralhospitalinmaputomozambique
AT joanagomes intestinalparasitesinchildrenhospitalizedatthecentralhospitalinmaputomozambique
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