Frequency of Intestinal Parasites in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Compared with Healthy Controls in Fasa, Fars Province, Iran, ۲۰۱۸

Background: Parasitic diseases are medically important, especially among immunocompromised patients. Recently, diabetes mellitus(DM) has become one of the most important clinical diseases, and the combination of this disease with parasitic infections canresult in serious consequences.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the infection of intestinal parasites in patients with DM and compare them withhealthy individuals in Fasa city and surrounding health centers.Methods: In this case-control study a total of ۵۰۱ patients and healthy individuals (۲۵۴ patients with DM and ۲۴۷ healthy controls)referred to health centers in Fasa, Fars province. Fecal specimens of all of these individuals were collected in a special container.These specimens were investigated using direct smear, concentration method, acid-fast and trichrome staining, agar plate cultivation,and Baermann technique.Results: In this study, ۲۵۴ diabetic patients (۵۰.۷%) and ۲۴۷ (۴۹.۳%) healthy controls were included. The age range of these peoplewas between ۲۵ to ۸۹ years old, with an average age of ۵۷.۷ ۱۰.۷. Our findings revealed that the frequency of intestinal parasites inthe control group (۱۸.۶%) is higher than the patient group (۱۲.۶%).Conclusions: Although the frequency of intestinal parasites in the control group was higher than the patient group, this doesnot reduce the importance of preventative programs for these patients. Considering the significant effect of unpurified water onintestinal parasites, it is better to consider this issue more in health programs.

Keywords:

Diabetes Mellitus , Intestinal Parasites , Epidemiology , Iran