Prevalence Of Fascioliasis Among Children With Hepatomecaly In Qualupia Covernorate:

Amal Hosseiny Abdel Hamid Menshawi

present study was performed in Pediatric Department , BanhaFaculty of Medicine , Zagagzig University. 50 children (33 males and 17females ) were chosen from those attending the out-and inpatient clinics ofPediatrics at Banha University Hospital . The selected cases were below 14years and showed heptomegaly on preliminary examination . All the caseswere subjected to complete clinical examination , stool analyss , bloodanalysis and their sera were isolated for immunological test (I.H.A) and then,the gained data were recorded .The results of this work were presented in figures and tables and theconventional statistical methods were used for their analysis .The results wereas follows:_ The mean age of males in the studied cases with hepatomegaly was 5.9years ( ± 2.6 )whereas the mean age offemales in these cases was 5.5years (± 3.5) ._ Among all the studied cases with hepatomegaly,3 cases were infectedwith Fasciola (6%) , all of them (100%) were males having a mean age7.3 years (± 2.1)._ Fasciola infection was prevalent in the age groups: 4-8 years (33.3%)and over 8 years (66.7%)._ Clinically, all cases (100%) had a triad offever , pallor and tenderhepatomegaly with occasional vomiting (33.3%) and jaundice (33.3%)._ Haematologically , infected cases had a mean haemoglobin value 5.8gmJdl (± 1.3 ) and eosinophilic percent 77% ( ± 1.5 ) .-56-_ Stool examination of the studied cases with hepatomegaly revealed:_No parasites in 19 cases (38%) ._ Only Fasciola in 3 cases (6%) ._ Other parasites in 28 cases (56%) ._ The validity of stool examination techniques in detecting Fasciola eggs,compared to LH.A , was as follows: zero % for floatation (zincsulphate) techniquc , 33.3% for the 3 successive stool examinationsand 100% for formol - ether sedimentation and merthiolate iodi neformaldehyde concentation techniques.CONCLUSION :1- Human fascioliasis becomes a new parasitic health problem amongEgyptian children.2- This disease should be suspected in any child having fever, paIlor andtender hepatomegaly, particularly when the blood picture reveals anaemiaand marked eosinophilia.