Analyzing Contributing Factors to Diarrheal Diseases Among Children Under Five in Kirkuk City
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Kirkuk, Iraq.
Research Article
International Journal of Life Science Research Archive, 2026, 10(02), 173–188.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijlsra.2026.10.2.0044
Publication history:
Received on 12 February 2026; revised on 23 February 2026; accepted on 01 April 2026
Abstract:
Background: Intestinal parasites infections may be correlated with anemia and nutritional disadvantage among school-age children. However, local evidence is required to evaluate such a relationship in Kirkuk city, Iraq.
Objective: To describe the detected intestinal parasites and their associations with hematological parameters, nutritional status, and severe anemia among children who attended hospitals in Kirkuk city
Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based survey was conducted between October 2022 and July 2023 in three hospitals. Direct saline and Lugol’s iodine mounts and zinc sulfate flotation were used on a total of 7253 fecal samples for examination. Hematological tests were done on the blood of 333 parasite-infected children and 100 apparently uninfected children. Descriptive and logistic data analysis were performed
Results: The researchers detected 333 parasite infections in total, of which 4.59% belong to the tested specimens. Thus, 102 patients received Giardia lamblia (30.63%), 84 obtained microscopy-confirmed Entamoeba histolytica (25.23%), and 42 were diagnosed with Enterobius vermicularis (12.61%). Compared to the control group, the infected patients had significantly lower mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, number of RBC, MCV, and MCH. Specifically, the lowest average value for hemoglobin was reported in the group of children with Giardia lamblia: 9.0 ± 1.4 compared to 13.5 ± 1.2 per the control group. In addition, the lowest level of hemoglobin was registered among the children with malnourishment for each category of parasitic infestation: 8.1 ± 1.7. Overall, there was a malnourishment prevalence of 64.0% among the infected children and 35.0% in the control group. Furthermore, the odds ratios for developing severe anemia were the highest for malnourishment (7.10), high parasite load (6.25), Giardia lamblia infection (4.05), and age below two years (3.20).
Conclusion: Detected parasitic infections were associated with unfavorable hematological and nutritional profiles in this hospital sample. The findings support integrated assessment of infection, nutrition, and anemia, while causal relationships require prospective investigation
Objective: To describe the detected intestinal parasites and their associations with hematological parameters, nutritional status, and severe anemia among children who attended hospitals in Kirkuk city
Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based survey was conducted between October 2022 and July 2023 in three hospitals. Direct saline and Lugol’s iodine mounts and zinc sulfate flotation were used on a total of 7253 fecal samples for examination. Hematological tests were done on the blood of 333 parasite-infected children and 100 apparently uninfected children. Descriptive and logistic data analysis were performed
Results: The researchers detected 333 parasite infections in total, of which 4.59% belong to the tested specimens. Thus, 102 patients received Giardia lamblia (30.63%), 84 obtained microscopy-confirmed Entamoeba histolytica (25.23%), and 42 were diagnosed with Enterobius vermicularis (12.61%). Compared to the control group, the infected patients had significantly lower mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, number of RBC, MCV, and MCH. Specifically, the lowest average value for hemoglobin was reported in the group of children with Giardia lamblia: 9.0 ± 1.4 compared to 13.5 ± 1.2 per the control group. In addition, the lowest level of hemoglobin was registered among the children with malnourishment for each category of parasitic infestation: 8.1 ± 1.7. Overall, there was a malnourishment prevalence of 64.0% among the infected children and 35.0% in the control group. Furthermore, the odds ratios for developing severe anemia were the highest for malnourishment (7.10), high parasite load (6.25), Giardia lamblia infection (4.05), and age below two years (3.20).
Conclusion: Detected parasitic infections were associated with unfavorable hematological and nutritional profiles in this hospital sample. The findings support integrated assessment of infection, nutrition, and anemia, while causal relationships require prospective investigation
Keywords:
Diarrheal diseases, Intestinal parasites, Hematological parameters, Kirkuk City, Child mortality, Malnutrition.
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