Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in children aged less than 5 years in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background : Parasitic gastroenteritis is a public health problem in Burkina Faso. However, there is lack of epidemiological data for better management of the disease. This study aimed at identifying the intestinal parasites responsible for diarrhoea and assessing their prevalence among children aged 0 - 5 years in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods : This hospital-based cross-sectional study consisted of 317 children aged from 0 - 5 years, with gastrointestinal disorders, were recruited at Saint Camille Hospital of Ouagadougou (HOSCO) and Notre Dame de Fatima Reception Centre (CANDAF). Stool samples were collected and processed by direct microscopic examination for the presence of intestinal parasites. Results : An overall prevalence of 20.8% (66/317) of parasitosis was observed. Giardia intestinalis , Entamoeba histolytica/dispar , Entamoeba coli , Trichomonas intestinalis and Hymenolopis nana species were found with respective frequencies of 12.0% (38/317), 4.4% (14/317), 4.4% (14/317) and 3.5% (11/317). Children aged 25 to 60 months were the most affected by parasitosis with 57.6% (38/66) of cases. Approximately 19.0% (60/317) of the patients presented with diarrhoea. Children aged 12 to 24 months were the most affected and represented 65% (39/60) of diarrheal cases. The most etiologic agents of diarrhoea were Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar found in 15% of cases. Conclusions : Parasites were weakly associated with childhood gastroenteritis which mainly affects children under 2 years.