Abstract

Fombotioh Ndifor, Hamit Mahamat Alio*, Issa Ramat Adam, Abakar Idriss Lawane and Foumsou Lhangadang

This study was to assess the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica and their hematological effects on children between 7 months to 7 years at the mother and child teaching hospital of N’Djamena. Patients consisted of 200 children who were brought for consultation in the paediatric ward. Our work started from November 2019 to April 2020. Stool samples were collected from patients and examined by direct smears and Willis floatation technique. Hematological parameters examined were: hematocrit, Hemoglobin, red blood cells, leucocytes and eosinophils. From the population studied, 42% had gastrointestinal protozoa infections. Our study recorded the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis (25%) and Entamoeba histolytica (75%). Parasites were isolated from all the age groups. Infections were higher in males 25% than in females 16.66%. Patients infected presented lower average of hematocrit 30%, hemoglobin 8.62±1.043, red blood cells 2.64±0.38, leucocytes 13.73± 2.62 and eosinophils 6.16%. The most frequent symptoms observed for both parasites were diarrhoea 25 (12.5%), abdominal pain 25 (12.5%), abdominal pain and diarrhoea 21(10.5%) and digestive discomfort 13(6.5%). This study noticed a strong prevalence of E. Histolytica and G.intestinalis among the children. A statistical significant different was found between infected and the non-infected subjects (P ?? 0.05).