Haematological and Demographic Study in Children Infected with Enterobiasis in Al Diwaniyah Province, Iraq

Abstract

Enterobius vermicularis infection is considered as one of the important causes of anaemia and malnutrition among children. This topic has recently received an increased amount of attention. The objective of this study is to evaluate the demographical, anthropometrical, nutritional, and haematological status of E. vermicularis infection among children. This study was conducted in Al Diwaniyah province, south of Iraq, for the period of October 2020 to the end of January 2021. The study included 122 children from both genders (males, n= 61, and females, n=61) and their ages ranged between 1 and 14 years. Nutritional status, body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, and weight- for- age Z score were evaluated for some participants. In addition, samples of cellophane tape and blood were collected from all participants. The cellophane tape samples were examined microscopically for E. vermicularis detection, whereas blood samples were processed to evaluate several parameters, which were hemoglobin, serum iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, and vitamin B12. The results revealed a high infection rate (73.77%) among the studied population. The results also showed a significant correlation between gender and the occurrence of E. vermicularis infection. Males showed a higher risk of enterobiasis than females. While no association was noticed between each of age, nutritional status, and enterobiasis. Also, a significant correlation was recorded between E. vermicularis positive status and anaemia. The results showed that each of BMI, weight- for- age Z score, haemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and ferritin had significantly lower values among those who were positive for E. vermicularis. Finally, the level of vitamin B12 was insignificantly decreased in children with enteroniasis. These findings indicate that more hematological changes are expected to occur in children with enterobiasis. Therefore, further consideration and investigation would be required on this topic in Iraq.

Evaluation of Hematological Factors and Micronutrients Among Children Infected with Enterobius vermicularis

“…This result was consistent with the findings of Al-Daoody and Al-Bazzaz [20] who found no significant relationship between E. vermicularis prevalence and gender. While these findings disagreed with those of Dohan and Al-Warid, 2022 [19] who reported a significant link between gender and the presence of E. vermicularis. The overall incidence of enterobiasis is far greater among 3-9 years old compared to other age class (10-14 years).…”

“…Intestinal parasitism can affect children's nutrition and cause them to "fail to thrive." Abnormalities in lipid, D-xylose, vitamin A and vitamin B12 absorption in the intestine have been linked to parasite infections [19,20,24]. This result agreed with the results of Nematian et al [25]who found that the risk of stunting was significantly higher in children infected with E. vermicularis.…”

“…Many researchers have surveyed its epidemiology and demographic status in populations from various parts of Iraq [14][15][16]. Other researchers have looked at enterobiasis and its relationship to enuresis, anaemia, blood biochemical parameters and vitamin deficiencies [17][18][19][20]. Even though various research have been performed on E. vermicularis, we still need to update our understanding of its possible impact on the hematological, micro nutritional and antroponotic measurements of the infected children.…”

Enterobius vermicularis infections in Iraq

“…This result agreed with other investigation that presented higher infection rates of E. vermicularis among females (Al-Daoody & Al-Bazzaz, 2020). This bias is nonetheless disagreed with other reports in Iraq such as those (Hussein & Meerkhan, 2019) and (Dohan & Al-Warid, 2022).…”

“…In Baghdad, the capital, the prevalence rate was (73.77 %) among 122 children aged between (1 -14) years (Dohan & Al-Warid, 2020). Other researchers looked at enterobiasis and its relationship to enuresis, anemia, biochemical parameters, and micronutrients defi ciencies (Al-Qadhi et al, 2011;Al-Daoody & Al-Bazzaz, 2020;Dohan & Al-Warid, 2022). Despite the fact that E.vermicularis has been the subject of numerous studies, there is still a knowledge gap in its regional distribution.…”