FECAL AND BLOOD EOSINOPHILS IN CHILDREN INFECTED WITH HELMINTHS AND PROTOZOA
intestinal parasitic infection, eosinophils, blood, feces
Introduction. In parasitic helminth infections eosinophilia is one of the important factors in host resistance. However, protozoan infections rarely result in peripheral eosinophilia. The aim of this study was to identify enteroparasitic infections in children and associate them to blood and fecal eosinophils. Methods. Parasitological examinations using the formaldehyde-ether method, eosinophil identification by trichrome and Leishman’s stains, were performed in 346 children. Results. Samples positive and negative for parasites were 80.1% and 19.9%, respectively. Absolute peripheral eosinophilia was found in 55.9% of children, and represented 82.7% of children parasitized and noting that 54.9% of those infected by protozoa showed eosinophils above 500 cells/mm3. Of the 62 children with fecal samples positive for eosinophils, 77.4% were infected with helminths and/or protozoa. The presence of Charcot-Leyden crystals in stools was positive in 39.1% of the samples was statistically significant in children showing parasitized with helminths (p = 0.022). Conclusion. Children are living in areas endemic for intestinal parasites and as can be seen most children with eosinophilia and eosinophils in the feces were parasitized by helminths and / or protozoa.