Intestinal Parasitosis, Haemoglobin and Eosinophil Levels of Patients Attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

Aims: To determine the effect of intestinal parasites on the haemoglobin concentration and eosinophil levels among the patients treated at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Nigeria.

Study Design: This was cross sectional study. Ethical approval and patients’ informed consent were sought and obtained before collection and processing of samples.

Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient clinic, UCTH, Calabar between July, 2013 and May, 2014.

Methodology: We included 300 patients (114 males, 186 females). Intestinal parasites were detected by direct stool microscopy and formol ether concentration technique. Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was determined by Cyanmethaemoglobin method while eosinophil levels were determined by differential eosinophil count.

Results: Overall, 30% of the studied subjects were positive for intestinal parasites, 23% had low Hb concentration (below 110.0 g/L) while 27% had high eosinophil count (≥ 7%). Parasite positive subjects had lower Hb concentration and higher eosinophil levels compared to their parasite negative counterpart (56.7% versus 8.6%) and (70% versus 8.6%), respectively (P< 0.001). Multiple infections was more related to Hb reduction and high eosinophil levels than single infections (80% versus 45%) and (90% versus 60%), respectively (P< 0.001). Hook worm showed the highest occurrence (26.7%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 23.3%, Trichuris trichiura 10%, and Entamoeba histolytica 6.7%. In single infections, Hook worm infected subjects recorded more reduction in Hb and increased eosinophil count (99.0 g/L and 15%, respectively) while in multiple infections, hookworm/Entamoeba histolytica co-infected subjects took the lead (70.0 g/L and 19%, respectively). There was no association between intestinal parasites prevalence by gender of subjects (P = 0.2128).

Conclusions: Intestinal parasitosis may result in anaemia and eosinophilia and the decrease in haemoglobin concentration and increase in eosinophil count is directly related to the degree of parasitosis. It is recommended that stool microscopy, haemoglobin estimation and eosinophil counts be routinely performed for all patients visiting the hospital.