Enteric Protoz Associated with Acute Diarrhea in Hospitalized Children in Qatar

Abstract

Diarrhea is the passage of three or more watery stool in a period of 24 hours (WHO, 2013). Types of diarrhea include acute watery diarrhea, acute bloody diarrhea known as dysentery and persistent diarrhea (WHO, 2013). It is caused by an infection of different pathogens including bacteria, viruses and parasites through fecal-oral transmission (WHO, 2013). Moreover, it can also be caused by food intolerance to certain food substances and as a side effect of certain medications such as laxatives (Burton & Ludwig, 2015). Diarrhea occurrence is most frequently associated with conditions of poor environmental sanitation and hygiene, poverty, inadequate water supply and limited education (Nelson & Masters, 2014). Worldwide, acute diarrhea disease is considered as the second cause of mortality and morbidity in children according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2013). In 2012, WHO reported 1.9 million diarrheal cases in children aged under the age of five accounting for 18% of all deaths. The clinical manifestations of diarrhea in pediatric patients include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever (WGO, 2012 & Maas et al., 2014). Diarrhea in children can lead to many consequences such as malnutrition, diminished growth and impaired cognitive development (WGO, 2012). Severe diarrhea can also result in life-threatening dehydration (Galvao et al., 2013). Thus it is important to replace the fluid and electrolytes by oral rehydration solution. Diarrhea is usually self-limiting. However, in cases of diarrhea persisting for longer than 1 week, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents are administered to treat bacterial and parasitic infection (Koletzko & Osterrieder, 2009). Intestinal protozoa that are most commonly associated with diarrhea in children include Blastocyst, Dientamoeba fragilis, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium species and Entamoeba species (Maas et al., 2014). Having updated information about the prevalence of these protozoan parasitic infections will aid in faster diagnosis and thus treatment. - Research question and objectives: Research Question: What are the most common protozoa and the risk factors for diarrhea in children under the age of 15 admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).