Abstract
Many modern-day diagnostic tests for parasitic diseases rely on conventional labour-intensive technologies such as serology and microscopy. Although major advances have been recorded in the diagnosis of infectious diseases in humans, parasitic diseases continue to present challenges, particularly in resource-poor countries, and this is mainly attributable to war and famine. Factors such as poverty, deteriorated health facilities and destruction of infrastructure are the consequence of the lack of suitable sanitary practices and proper hygiene, especially in refugee camps, that adversely promote infectious diseases to migrants, particularly among vulnerable children. Generally, the gastrointestinal tract is the predilection site for most helminths and protozoa. They are therefore regarded as a serious public-health problem, as they cause malabsorption, malnutrition and blood loss, leading to anaemia or even death. In addition to their health effects, parasitic infections cause physical and mental impairment in children, retard their educational achievements and hinder economic development. Keywords: Prevalence, Parasitic diseases, Intestinal parasite, Food-borne, Water-borne, Pathogens, Post-war, Iraq
Highlights
Intestinal parasites constitute a significant public health problem, in tropical and subtropical countries where adequate water and sanitation are lacking [1]
The high prevalence recorded in these countries is closely associated with poverty and deteriorated health infrastructure, lack of hygiene and good sanitary practices, as well as the possible introduction of infections through refugee camps and migration due to war and famine [4]
The prevalence of intestinal parasitic diseases is an indication of a deteriorated environment
Summary
Intestinal parasites constitute a significant public health problem, in tropical and subtropical countries where adequate water and sanitation are lacking [1]. The causative agent of giardiasis is a flagellate protozoan parasite that affects people on a global scale It is more prevalent in areas with poor sanitary conditions, the disease is common among developing countries, including Iraq [40]. The disease is viewed as an emerging problem in a variety of epidemiological settings, commonly in refugee camps and communities ravaged by war and break down of public health infrastructure It is emerging as a parasitic infection in children, those attending day cares or living in large family settings; as well as in domestic animals throughout the world. Another study demonstrated that the hand washing habit before eating is not commonly practiced among children in war-torn countries [59] This finding is consistent with the result of Arinola and Fawole [60], who observed that the prevalence and intensity of some intestinal helminths were predominant in the same age group in Iraq. They have a global distribution and are transmitted directly from person to person, and by autoinfection [61]
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