Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India: Five year retrospective study

Intestinal parasitic infections are highly prevalent among the general population in developing countries and these infections can lead to a number of adverse effects like anaemia, reduced physical growth, mental retardation, abdominal colic, cholestasis, cholecystitis and pancreatitis. To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients attending various outdoor departments of our hospital. A retrospective laboratory analysis of stool samples was carried out for intestinal parasitic examination in a tertiary care hospital. The records were collected from Microbiology Laboratory for a period of five years (January 2008 to December 2012). Material and methods: Stool samples were examined by direct smears (saline and Lugol s iodine) and concentration techniques. Saturated salt solution floatation technique and formalin-ether sedimentation technique was used for concentration. In our study the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 6.68%. There were nine different parasites encountered. The most common parasite identified was Giardia lamblia 58.5%, followed by Entamoeba histolytica 32%, and Ascaris lumbricoides 5.8%. The other parasites detected were Taenia species, H. nana, E. vermicularis and Ancylostoma duodenale. Intestinal parasitic infections are an important public health problem. It is necessary to develop effective prevention and control strategies including health education and environmental hygiene.