Daryani  , N. Barmaki  , G.H. Ettehad  , M. Sharif  , M.H. Dehghan  , A. Nemati  , H. Ziaei  , 
    A Cross-sectional Study of <I>Blastocystis hominis </I>in Primary Schoolchildren, Northwest Iran,
    International Journal of Tropical Medicine,
    Volume 1,Issue 2,
    2006,
    Pages 53-57,
    ISSN 1816-3319,
    ijtmed.2006.53.57,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=ijtmed.2006.53.57)
    Abstract: <I>Blastocystis hominis </I>is a protozoan parasite whose importance as a cause of gastrointestinal
pathology is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of <I>Blastocystis hominis
(B. homini</I>s) and the presence of symptoms among primary schoolchildren. This cross-sectional study was
conducted in 1070 schoolchildren between 7-13 years old in northwest Iran, 2003. A questionnaire was
completed for each child. Stool specimens were collected by stratified random sampling and were examined
using direct wet mount for presence of <I>B. hominis </I>and formalin-ether concentration method for helminthes
eggs and protozoan cysts. The most common parasite was <I>B. hominis </I>(&lt;5 cells per field) (28.2%) followed by
<I>Giardia lamblia (G. lambli</I>a) 14.2%. A total of 109/1070 (10.2%) showed $5 <I>B. hominis </I>per field. The most
common symptoms in children who showed only <I>B. hominis </I>were abdominal pain (49.4%), anorexia (35.8%) and nausea (33%). On the basis of our findings we recommend that <I>B. hominis </I>be considered as a potential
pathogen in symptomatic people, especially children when the number of organisms in a stool specimen
exceeds five organisms per field. Awareness on the part of clinicians and laboratory technicians is essential for
proper diagnosis and treatment of cases.
    Keywords: Blastocystis hominis;schoolchildren;Iran;protozoam parasite