Evaluation of the intestinal parasites in children with cancer

8. SUMMARYEVALUATION OF THE INTESTINAL PARASITES IN CHILDREN WITHCANCERIntroduction and Aim: Today, some parasitic diseases result in very severe clinicalconditions in immune deficient patients, conflicting with the data presented in clinicalparasitology books. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and type of theintestinal parasites in healthy, cancer and survived children after cancer therapy, and toevaluate if there are any differences in incidence and types of parasites in cancerpatients during their neutropenic period.Material and Method: Three different patient groups were formed. Group I includedeighty immune deficient patients with hematologic malignancy or solid tumors, whoreceived intensive chemotherapy and had absolute neutrophil count less than 1000/mm3.Group II included eighty five patients with hematologic malignancy or solid tumor, whowere receiving maintenance chemotherapy and had normal absolute neutrophil count.One hundred and seventy two patients, who did not receive chronic immunesuppressing treatment and who did not have immune deficiency were chosen among thepatients admitted to pediatric hematology outpatient clinic. Parasitic evaluation of stoolwas performed on three following days.Results: Prevalence of parasite in Group I patients was significantly higher than othergroups. The most common detected parasite in all groups was Giardia intestinalis.Blastocystis hominis was detected in only Group I, but this was not statistically54significant. Presence of parasite in patients with absolute neutrophil count below1000/mm3 was found to be significantly higher than in patients with absolute neutrophilcount above 1000/ mm3.Conclusion: As prevalence of intestinal parasites was found to be significantly higherin immune deficient patients than other groups, parasitic infections should not beignored when these kind of patients present with infection findings.Keywords: Children with cancer, intestinal parasites, immune deficiency55