Intestinal Parasitic Infections at Tikur Anbessa University Hospital, Ethiopia: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections cause serious public health problems in Ethiopia. They are prevalent in populations with low socio-economic status, overcrowding and poor hygiene. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among patients who had attended Tikur Anbessa University Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using hospital data obtained from the Medical Parasitology unit in Tikur Anbessa University Hospital from April to June 2012. Data was entered, cleaned and analysed using the SPSS, version 16.0. Chi-square test (χ2) was used to identify associations between the variables using p<0.05 as thelevel of significance. Results: Over the five years study period, a total of 4977 patients visiting Tikur Anbessa Hospital were included in the study. The patients mean age was 31.86 (± 14.79) with female to male ratio being 1.2:1. A total of 1718 (34.5%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. Mixed infections were found in 123 (2.5%) of the total patients included in this study. Up to 3 parasites were detected in 8 (0.2%) of the patients. E. histolytica trophozoite was the most commonly reported parasite, which was seen in 13.6% of the patients. Isospora belli was the least commonly reported protozoan parasite (0.1%). Among helminths, Ascarislumbricoides was the most prevalent etiology of parasitic infections as reported in 4.4% of the patients. Enterobiusvermicularis was identified only in 0.1%, thus the least common cause of helminths infections. In this study, the intestinal parasitic infections were most prevalent (43%) in patients between 5-14 years of age group. Conclusions and Recommendation: A notable finding from this study is the high prevalence of parasitic infections, with E. histolytica trophozoite as the most commonly reported one, among patients visiting Tikur Anbessa Hospital from 2006 to 2010. Overall, intestinal parasitic infections were more prevalent in patients among 5-14 years of age (43%).