Intestinal permeability in Hymenolepis nana as reflected by non invasive lactulose/mannitol dual permeability test and its impaction on nutritional parameters of patients.

Assessment of Hymenolepis nana infection among 102 children and adults of both sexes (5-16 years) residing 2 Welfare Institutes (Giza and Cairo) showed a prevalence of 22.33%. The effect of H. nana on intestinal permeability and on nutritional parameters of patients was studied. A total of 46 subjects were divided into 2 groups: GI (20 H. nana patients) and GII (26 parasite-free control). Both groups were subjected to lactulose/mannitol dual permeability test, anthropometric study, estimation of vitamin B12 and folate levels in plasma and estimation of haemoglobin (HB)%, RBCs and WBCs counts and haematocrite value (HCT%) for anaemia. The H. nana patients showed significant higher percent (P = 0.04) of altered intestinal permeability versus controls denoting intestinal leakage, significant means lower levels of vitamin B12 (P = 0.01) and folate (P < 0.04) in blood plasma versus control denoting liability to vitamin B12 & folate deficiencies. Means value of HB%, RBC & WBC counts and HCT% showed generalized decrease but without significant difference in H. nana patients and control denoting anaemia liability. The percent of stunting (HAZ < or =2) and of wasting (WAZ < or =2) were higher among H. nana patients versus controls but without significant difference (P = 0.19 & P = 0.47 respectively).