[The role of protozoan parasites in etiology of urticaria]

Abstract

In order to investigate a possible link between parasites and chronic urticaria, the prevalence of intestinal protozoans in stool samples of individuals with chronic urticaria (n=55) and healthy controls (n=43) were evaluated with native lugol, formol-ethyl acetate concentration and trichrom dye, modified acid fast. In the case of Giardia intestinalis (G. intestinalis) ELISA was also used. In the study 29.1% of the patients were found to have protozoan (Blastocystis hominis + G.intestinalis) infections. On the other hand, only 11.6% of the patients in healthy group were having a protozoon infection, all of which were B. hominis. There was no statistically significant difference between the patient group and control group regarding the frequency of B. hominis presence. Also, the number of G.intestinalis positive patients were also statistically different in patient group from those of healthy controls. In patients whom were positive for protozoan infections, agent specific therapy was used. In 7 of these patients symptoms of the disease were subsided with this therapy while six continued to have relapses. Three patients had missed the control visits therefore the course of the disease was not evaluated. As a conclusion, protozoans should be considered in the etiology of chronic urticaria and stool examination should be done in these patients routinely.