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. 2022 Jan 10;16(1):e0010120.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010120. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Magnitude and associated factors of Intestinal Parasitosis and Tuberculosis among Tuberculosis suspected patients attending Kuyu General Hospital, North Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia

Sahilu Tesfaye  1 , Biruk Zerfu  1 , Kassu Desta  1
Affiliations

Magnitude and associated factors of Intestinal Parasitosis and Tuberculosis among Tuberculosis suspected patients attending Kuyu General Hospital, North Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia

Sahilu Tesfaye et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasites and Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection is a major public health problem. The parasitic infection suppresses the cell mediated immunity that protects tuberculosis. Helminthes-induced immune modulation promotes progression to active tuberculosis. However, there is paucity of evidences on the intestinal parasites-tuberculosis co-infection in Ethiopia. This study explores the magnitude and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infection and TB among suspected pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) patients.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was conducted in Kuyu General Hospital from December 2019-March 2020. The socio-demographic data and associated factors were collected by structured questionnaire and then spot-spot sputum and fresh stool samples were collected following standard guidelines and were processed. Descriptive analysis was conducted and reported in frequency and percentage. Bivariate analysis was computed and a multivariable analysis was conducted to provide an adjusted odds ratio (AOR). P-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered as statistically significant.

Results: The burden of intestinal parasites was 20.2% (49/ 242) and 6.1% (20/ 242) of them were helminths infections and 14.1% (29/ 242) were protozoa infections. Of 242 patients, 14.9% (36/242) were sputum smear-positive for acid fast-bacilli. Of 36 smear positive patients, 9(25%) had TB-intestinal parasites co-infection. Dwelling in rural areas and having untrimmed fingernails were statistically significantly associated with intestinal parasites. Having a contact history of Tb patients was significantly associated with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Conclusions: The magnitude of intestinal parasites and TB among PTB suspected patients were high. Hookworm infection was the predominant helmenthic infection. It is important to consider screening TB patients for intestinal parasites and treat co-infection properly.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart for enrollment and data collection procedure for PTB suspected patients in Kuyu General Hospital, Ethiopia, 2020.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Magnitude of tuberculosis among PTB suspected patients in Kuyu General Hospital, 2020 (n = 242).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Parasitic infection of participants in a study of intestinal parasite among PTB patients in Kuyu General Hospital, 2020 (n = 242).
Fig 4
Fig 4. Intestinal Parasite-Tuberculosis co-infection among AFB positive, Kuyu General Hospital, North Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2020(n = 36).
Fig 5
Fig 5. Intestinal parasitic infections among smear negative individuals in Kuyu General Hospital, 2020 (n = 206).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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