Giardiasis in Children with Acute Watery Diarrhea

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Giardia lamblia is a frequent cause of acute watery diarrhea and malabsorption in children in developing countries.

Objective: To assess the frequency and associated factors of acute giardiasis in children admitted in tertiary care hospital with acute watery diarrhea.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in the department of Pediatrics, King Edward Medical University, Lahore from April to September 2018. Total of 250 children of both genders, between 6 months to 12 years of age having acute watery diarrhea were included in this study by non-probability consecutive sampling. Children with acute dysentery, persistent diarrhea and children who already have received drugs (antibiotics, metronidazole) were excluded from the study. Fresh fecal sample were collected from every child and diagnosis of giardiasis was established by evidence of giardia by positive stool antigen by ELIZA. Data were entered in SPSS 22.0. Quantitative variables like age was presented as mean. Qualitative variables like gender were presented as frequency and percentages. Chi square test was applied to compare the children with and without acute giardiasis. The p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: Among 250 children of age between 6 months- 12 years, presenting with acute watery diarrhea, 64 (25.6%) children had giardiasis.  We found younger age (6-12 months) as an associated factor for giardiasis in children [p value 0.038, 1.578 (1.458-5.436)]. In this age group, 51.2% children had giardiasis. Gender of child, literacy level, socioeconomic status and area of residence of parents was not found to be the associated factor for acute giardiasis.

Conclusion: We found that among children presenting with acute watery diarrhea, 25.6% cases had giardiasis. Younger age (6-12 months) was found to be associated factor for acute giardiasis in children.