Parasitic and Viral Gastroenteritis among Pediatric Egyptian Patients less than Five Years

Background: Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common human infectious diseases. In low-income countries, diarrhea is the second principal cause of mortality in children less than the age of sixty months. Objectives: This cross-sectional research aimed to detect intestinal parasites, rotavirus, and adenovirus and their coinfection occurrence in 100 children not more than 5 years with acute gastroenteritis. Methodology: Part of each stool sample collected was examined microscopically to detect enteric parasites using a direct wet mount, sedimentation techniques, and modified Ziehl-Nelseen stain. The other part was used in the identification of rotavirus and adenovirus antigens by immunochromatographic assay. Results: The percentages of the infective causative agents of diarrhea were as follows: rotavirus (80%), adenovirus (19%), Blastocystis spp. (4%) and finally, Cryptosporidium spp. (1%). Co-infection percentages of rotavirus with adenovirus, was 15%, rotavirus with Blastocystis spp. (3%), and rotavirus with Cryptosporidium spp. (1%). Seasonal distribution of rotavirus infection recorded a high occurrence in autumn, winter, and spring (92.6%, 92%, and 87%, respectively) (P-value <0.001). The seasonal peak of adenovirus was in winter (60.9%) which was significant statistically P-value < 0.001. According to the seasonal pattern of intestinal parasites, Blastocystis spp. infection occurrence was 8% in autumn, 4% in summer, and 3.7% in spring. Only one case of Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in summer (4%). Conclusion: Rotavirus and adenovirus constitute a significant portion of acute gastroenteritis causative agents in children, while Blastocystis spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. appeared to be the most likely encountered parasitic infections in children with acute gastroenteritis.