Frequency of Giardia lamblia among Iraqi children in Kirkuk governorate

Abstract

Burhan Ahmed Mohammed, Zaenab Khorsheed Rasheed, Luay Jumaah Jihad, Kasim Sakran Abass

Background: Giardiasis is one of the famous gastroenteritis, characterized by a diarrheal illness that is caused by a microscopic parasite, called Giardia lamblia. Giardia lamblia is a flagellate infectious protozoan parasite that able of causing gastrointestinal disease in human and animals, an etiological agent that infects the small intestine of human and may be asymptomatic or cause acute or chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption in children.
Methods: A total of 152 stool samples were collected from children attending to General Pediatrics Hospital in Kirkuk City., including 82 males and 70 females their aged were ranged between 6 months to 5 years. Wet mount preparation and Zinc sulphate solution flotation techniques were used for Giardia lamblia detection.
Results: The study results revealed that the Giardia lamblia prevalence rate ranged in males (34.14%) was slightly higher than females (32.85%). The higher rate of infection was reported in age groups 48-60 months 6(40%).
Aim of the study: The study aims to investigate the prevalence rate of Giardia lamblia in Kirkuk city among children patients of limited age groups.
Conclusion: The rate of infection was higher in males than in females.