Sumeeta Khurana1, Renu Gur2, Neha Gupta3. 1. Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: sumeetakhurana@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Microbiology, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College & Hospital, Rohini, Delhi, India. Electronic address: renugur@hotmail.com. 3. Department of Microbiology, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College & Hospital, Rohini, Delhi, India. Electronic address: neha.renaissance2014@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is among the top ten global causes of death. Chronic diarrhea may have destructive impact on physical and mental health of patients and is also associated with high risk of mortality in children. Parasitic intestinal infections remain an important cause of chronic diarrhea especially in the developing part of the world. OBJECTIVE: To study the parasitic causes of chronic diarrhea and highlight the challenges faced in the diagnosis of chronic diarrhea caused due to parasitic infections. CONTENT: Due to non-specific symptoms, insensitive available diagnostic techniques, asymptomatic carriage and transmission, recurrent infections in endemic areas, pose a challenge for diagnosis of the parasitic infections and thus delay the treatment. Conventional techniques like microscopy, though cheaper are not very sensitive. Advanced techniques like molecular methods are more sensitive but expensive and are not readily available in resource limited settings. Newer cost-effective diagnostic techniques with higher sensitivity and specificity are required to detect the infectious agent and for appropriate management.
BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is among the top ten global causes of death. Chronic diarrhea may have destructive impact on physical and mental health of patients and is also associated with high risk of mortality in children. Parasitic intestinal infections remain an important cause of chronic diarrhea especially in the developing part of the world. OBJECTIVE: To study the parasitic causes of chronic diarrhea and highlight the challenges faced in the diagnosis of chronic diarrhea caused due to parasitic infections. CONTENT: Due to non-specific symptoms, insensitive available diagnostic techniques, asymptomatic carriage and transmission, recurrent infections in endemic areas, pose a challenge for diagnosis of the parasitic infections and thus delay the treatment. Conventional techniques like microscopy, though cheaper are not very sensitive. Advanced techniques like molecular methods are more sensitive but expensive and are not readily available in resource limited settings. Newer cost-effective diagnostic techniques with higher sensitivity and specificity are required to detect the infectious agent and for appropriate management.