The effect of Blastocystis hominis on the growth status of children.

BACKGROUND: B. hominis is a protozoan parasite commonly found in the human gastrointestinal tract. The pathogenesis of B. hominis is still controversial, although it is one of the most common parasites found in stool samples.

MATERIAL/METHODS: This study was conducted at the Adnan Menderes Medical Faculty between January 2002 and June 2003 to evaluate the relationship between B. hominis and growth status in children in Aydin, Turkey. Healthy children with positive stool samples for B. hominis but negative for other parasites were selected as the case group (n=89). Two controls matched to each case by age and gender were selected by random sampling of children with negative stool samples for any parasite (n=178).

RESULTS: The anthropometric measurements and body mass index were significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: According to this study there is a correlation between the presence of B. hominis and lower anthropometric indexes in children.