[Underestimation of intestinal protozoa as a cause of diarrhea in family practice]. / Onderschatting van darmprotozoa als oorzaak van diarree in de huisartspraktijk.
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd
; 139(7): 324-7, 1995 Feb 18.
Article
em Nl
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7877701
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the frequency of intestinal protozoa in stool samples of patients with diarrhoea in general practice.SETTING:
General practitioners' laboratory in Haarlem, Netherlands.DESIGN:
Descriptive study.METHOD:
During one year (1 February 1992 to 31 January 1993) all stool samples from patients with diarrhoea visiting a general practitioner were examined according to a standard protocol consisting of bacterial and protozoal examination.RESULTS:
Among 1703 stool examinations requested by general practitioners and performed according to the protocol, pathogenic protozoa were found in 10.8% and pathogenic bacteria in 8.6%. Of the 184 patients who tested positive for pathogenic protozoa 156 harboured Giardia lamblia, 22 Entamoeba histolytica and 6 Cryptosporidium spp. Pathogenic protozoa were predominantly found in patients with diarrhoea persisting for longer than 1 week and in cases with intermittent diarrhoea. In patients with acute diarrhoea (duration < 1 week) we predominantly found pathogenic bacteria (Campylobacyter jejuni). If the search for protozoa in the stool samples would not have been performed routinely, 34% of the pathogenic protozoa (Giardia lamblia) would not have been found.CONCLUSION:
Intestinal infections with protozoa are not rare in general practice. It seems worthwhile to perform protozoal examination of the stool samples in case of persistent diarrhoea.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Diarreia
/
Eucariotos
/
Fezes
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
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Aged
/
Animals
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Child
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Child, preschool
/
Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
Idioma:
Nl
Ano de publicação:
1995
Tipo de documento:
Article