Cryptosporidium parvum as a Causative Agent of Diarrhea in Children: A Study in Al-Ramadi and Falluja
Keywords:
Cryptosporidium parvum, Children, Diarrhea, Epidemiology, Public HealthAbstract
This study investigated the prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in children experiencing diarrhea in Al-Ramadi and Falluja cities. Over a four-month period, 100 stool samples from diarrheic children and 30 control samples from children without gastrointestinal infections were analyzed using a combination of direct smear and modified Acid-Fast staining methods. The results indicated that 28% of the diarrheic children were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum, while no oocysts were detected in the control group. The research further explored the incidence of infection in relation to various factors, including gender, water source, place of residence, type of feeding, and stool pH. It was found that infection rates were highest in children under one year of age and that males were more significantly affected than females. Additionally, the study revealed that children consuming filtered water had a higher incidence of cryptosporidiosis compared to those using municipal water. Rural children were more likely to be infected than their urban counterparts, and those on artificial feeding were at greater risk than breastfed infants. The presence of Cryptosporidium parvum was also associated with acidic stool pH levels. The importance of this research lies in its identification of specific risk factors and demographics associated with Cryptosporidium parvum infection in children, which can inform targeted public health interventions and improve the management of diarrheal diseases in the study areas.
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