Year: 2026 | Month: January | Volume: 16 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 275-280
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260132
Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Children and Adolescents with Psychiatric Illness Attending a Tertiary Care Psychiatric Institute of North-East India
Alpana Malakar1, Jitu Mani Kalita2, Jyoti Hazarika1, Bondona Timungpi3
1Department of Microbiology, LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam
2Department of Microbiology, Vyas Medical College & Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
3Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam
Corresponding Author: Jitu Mani Kalita
ABSTRACT
Objective: Chronic psychiatric patients are more prone to intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) due to factors like low self-control, personal hygiene issue, length of hospital stays and low self-care. Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) contribute substantially to developing country’s childhood morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to assess the positivity of IPIs among children and adolescents with psychiatric illness.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care psychiatric institute. All the admitted children and adolescent patients that met the inclusion criteria were included. Stool samples were collected and examined by direct wet mount (normal saline and iodine) to detect parasitic cyst and ova. Stool smears were made directly from the specimen and subjected to modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining to detect coccidian parasite. Socio-demographic data like age, sex, geographic distribution was collected in a pre-designed proforma.
Statistical analysis: Analysis and interpretation of the data was done by using IBM SPSS (software version 29.0)
Results: The overall positivity of IPIs in this study was 10% (5/50). Blastocystis hominis was the most commonly detected parasite in 8% (4/5) of patients followed by Ascaris lumbricoides in 2% (1/5).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate a significant positivity of IPIs in children and adolescents with psychiatric illness. Regular screening, periodic deworming of this population and improvement of their maintenance conditions may be considered to prevent and control of IPIs in this population.
Key words: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs); Psychiatric illness; Northeast India; Protozoa; Helminth