Occurrence of Intestinal Parasite Infections among Presumptive Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Attending COOUTH Amaku, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients attending clinics at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Study Design: The study is a cross-sectional, hospital-based descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Between April and June 2023, the laboratory investigations and analyses were carried out at the Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Service, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A total of 323 participants aged five to ninety years old who were attending clinics at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, Anambra State, were systematically chosen for the study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect demographic information, and stool samples were tested for intestinal parasites using direct wet mounting, Formol-Ether Sedimentation Techniques, and the Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) method for Oocysts. Sputum samples were also tested for PTB using the Xpert MTB Rif assay method. SPSS version 25.0 was used for statistical analysis, and the chi-squared test was used to determine significant associations.

Results: Out of 323 presumptive PTB patients screened, 22% had intestinal parasite infections and 13.6% had confirmed PTB. Co-infection with intestinal parasites and PTB was found in 5.6% of the participants. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common intestinal parasite (8.7%), and Giardia lamblia was the least common (2.2%). The 27-36-year-old age group had the highest infection rates (5.5%; P = 0.05), according to age-related analysis. Males had a higher (22.7%) infection prevalence than females (P = 0.12). Importantly, patients with tuberculosis were more susceptible to intestinal parasites.

Conclusion: This study underscores the significance of screening presumptive PTB patients for parasitic infections and treating co-infected individuals in order to slow the progression of both diseases and reduce morbidity among TB patients.