Opportunistic intestinal parasites among children with chronic liver disease.

Two hundred children were included in this study, 80 patients showing clinical and/or biochemical evidence of chronic liver disease, 80 immuno-compromised children due to causes other than chronic liver disease and 40 healthy control. All were subjected to detailed history, thorough clinical examination, investigated by liver function tests and stool examination by special techniques for opportunistic intestinal parasites. Autoimmune chronic hepatitis represented 12.5% of cases with chronic liver disease, hepatic schistosomiasis 30%, congenital cholestasis 25%, chronic viral hepatitis 20% and metabolic liver diseases 12.5%. The incidence of opportunistic intestinal parasites with chronic liver disease (92.5%) was nearly similar to the immuno-compromised ones (90%) and significantly higher than controls (30%). Mixed infection was not detected in controls while 57.5% of patients with chronic liver disease and 35% of immuno-compromised were infected by 2 parasites and 12.5% of each group was infected by more parasites. The commonest parasites were G. lamblia, E. histolytica and C. parvum but no Strongyloides stercoralis was detected. Children with chronic liver disease can be considered immuno-compromised and are liable to infection by opportunistic intestinal parasites.