Gastrointestinal parasites among patients with irritable bowel Syndrome (IBS)‎ in Khartoum State

Abstract EN

Objectives The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among patients with irritable bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The study was conducted in different health centers and hospitals in Khartoum State during the period between May and December (2011).

Methods The study involved three hundred participants (200 IBS patients and 100 control group).

Stool samples were collected, processed and examined for gastrointestinal parasites using direct wet mount and formal-ether concentration techniques.

Results The study revealed that G.

lamblia was seen in 28.

5 % of the irritable bowel syndrome cases, followed by Entamoeba histolytica in 9.

2 % of cases, Hymenolepis nana (7.

0 %), Taenia spp (4 %) and Entamoeba coli and Ascaris lumbricoides (3.

5 % each).

Lower rates were reported among the control group.

Conclusion The association between gastrointestinal parasites infection in IBS patients, although conclusive is an interesting finding.

The study concluded that the stool carriage of intestinal protozoan parasites among IBS group is far more common than control group and as a result symptoms in IBS patients may be attributed to Giardia lamblia (28.

5 %).