A study on Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in HIV (+) Patients Referred to Ahvaz Razi Hospital in 2008-2009

Background: Accute Immune Deficiency Syndrom (AIDS) is a serious and lethal disease in many parts of the world, rendering a patient sensitive to all opportunistic pathogens that can cause death as the disease progresses. Many patients suffer from intestinal opportunistic infections by parasites. Objectives: The aim of present study was to examine parasitic intestinal infections in AIDS patients in Razi Hospital, Ahvaz. Patients and Methods: We collected 100 stool samples from 60 HIV (+) patients who were referred to Razi Hospital, Ahvaz. The samples were examined by direct and MIF (merthiowlate-iodine-formaldehyde) method. All samples were stained with Ziehl-Neelsen (acid fast staining) and trichrome. General data, such as clinical signs, duration of disease, route of infection, and habitat of patient, were obtained by questionnaire. Results: Thirty percent of HIV (+) patients were infected with intestinal protozoan parasites. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of parasite infections between sex or age. The prevalence of parasitic infections was as follows: Blastocystis hominis,16.7%; Cryptosporidium parvum, 8.3%; Endolimax nano, 5%; Entamoeba coli,5%; Giardia intestinalis,3.3%; E. histolytica cyst, 1. 7%, and Dientamoeba fragilis,l. 7%. Conclusions: This study shows that the prevalence of parasitic infections is not high in HIV (+) patient in Ahvaz compared with other studies, but it is recommended that fecal examination be performed every 3 months to detect serious parasitic infections and that parasitic infections should be treated after laboratory diagnosis and in the presence of the gastrointestinal symptoms. Copyright 2012 Kowsar Corp. All rights reserved.