A Study on the Epidemiology of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Autistic Children in Zella - Libya

الملخص

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites among children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the city of Zella, located in the Al-Jufra municipality in central Libya. The study was conducted between March and October 2024 and included a sample of 15 children aged between 3 and 15 years, selected from Al-Amal Center for Special Needs in the city. Descriptive Statistics analysis was used in this study. Following the necessary ethical approval, demographic data were collected through questionnaires directed to the children's parents. These questionnaires covered aspects related to the children's medical history, characteristics of autism, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Stool samples were collected from the autistic children and examined in the laboratory using direct microscopic examination techniques to detect common intestinal parasites at the central hospital laboratory in Zella. The findings revealed that the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among autistic children was 80%. Infection rates were higher among males (90%) compared to females (60%). The distribution of infections by parasite type was as follows: Entamoeba histolytica (68%), Giardia lamblia and Ascaris lumbricoides (17% each), and Entamoeba coli (8%). Additionally, 92% of the cases involved multiple infections, with more than one parasite found in the same autistic child. Analysis indicated that children aged 6 to 8 years were the most affected, with a percentage of 58%. A strong association was observed between intestinal parasitic infections and hyperactivity, recorded in 80% of the cases, while chronic diarrhea was reported in only 8% of the studied sample.