Intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors in Sudanese pediatric sickle cell patients

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are considered major health problems, particularly in tropical countries such as Sudan, and can increase the cases of morbidity among children with sickle cell anemia. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the prevalence of IPIs among children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) attending the pediatric section at Kosti Teaching Hospital, Kosti, Sudan. A total of 200 stool samples (100 from children with sickle cell anemia and 100 from children without SCA) were collected from children admitted to the pediatric emergency department. The study spanned from September 2022 to March 2023. All stool samples were examined using direct wet preparation and the formal ether concentration technique. The overall prevalence of IPIs among children with SCA was 86% (86/100), while that among non-SCA was 82% (82/100). Specifically, the distribution of intestinal parasites (IPs) among children with SCA was G. intestinalis 62% (62/100), E. histolytica/E. dispar 54% (54/100), E. coli 31% (31/100) and H. nana 1% (1/100). While the parasite dominant in SCA children were G. intestinalis 62% (62/100), that in non-SCA children was E.coli 69% (69/100). Generally, the infection prevalence was higher among children older than 5 years. There was no statistically significant link between intestinal parasitic infections and SC status (SCA versus non-SCA). This suggests such infections are more of extrinsic factors rather than genetic predisposition to SCD.