Observations on parasites and Bacteria in stools of Children with diarrhoeal Disease

Abstract

Studies involving the insolation of parasitic and bacterial agents in faecal samples of 363 children (age 3 months- 15 years) with diarrhoeal disease in Accra revealed a 39.4 % incidence rate of both parasitic anti bacteria. Helminthic and protozoan parasites accounted for 33.1% of the isolations. All the bacteria isolated. are known Causative diarrhoeal agents in children in Accra. Two enteral protozoa and 3 helminths known to cause diarrhoea in humans were found in this study and these were encountered alone or in various combinations in about 82.5 % of the positive stools. Concurrent isolation of parasitic and bacterial diarrhoeal agents was made in 5.6 % of the positive stools. It is suggested that helminths and or protozoa may play a major role in the causation of diarrhoea in children in Accra.