Role of Protozoa as Risk Factors for Persistent Diarrhea

A case control study including 175 children aged 0–36 months suffering from diarrhea of ≥14 days duration was undertaken to determine whether there is an association betweenGiardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica orCryptosporidium infection and persistent diarrhea (PD). Subjects were identified by ongoing household surveillance and enrolled as cases. For each case two controls were selected by survey of neighbouring households—a child with acute diarrhea and one without diarrhea. Both the controls were matched with the case for age and nutritional status. Two fresh stool samples were collected from all cases and controls at enrolment and examined for trophozoites ofGiardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica andCryptosporidium.