Abstract:

Parasitic positivity was found in 739 (6.48%) out of 11393 stool specimens of pediatric patients. Blastocystis spp. was found in 233 (31.5%) of the positive samples. Of the pediatric patients who were positive for Blastocystis spp., 109 (46.7%) were male, 124 (53.2%) were female and 94.4% were polyclinics and 5.6% were service patients. In 66 cases (28.3%) only Blastocystis spp., in 165 (70.8%) Blastocystis spp. and Entamoeba spp., in one of the samples Blastocystis spp. and Dientamoeba fragilis (0.4%) and in one Blastocystis spp., Entamoeba spp. and Dientamoeba fragilis ( 0.4%) together was determined. Conclusion: It was concluded that Blastocystis spp. and entamoeba spp. were the most common parasitic agents and it was found that the patients infected with these parasites were mostly found in patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department (48%). Blastocystis infections show different clinical picture in each patient. Some of the Blastocystis subtypes are thought to be pathogenic and some are non-pathogenic and therefore, new scientific studies are needed to determine the relationship between parasite and pathogenicity.

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