Intestinal parasitic infections among a selected group of institutionalised psychiatric patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic psychiatric illnesses are known to be at high risk of intestinal parasitic infections because of poor attention to sanitation and hygiene. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among inmates of a psychiatric institution in Sri Lanka. METHODS: Faecal samples of randomly selected patients at the Half-way Home, Mulleriyawa (HHM) were examined using saline and modified Kato Katz smears. RESULTS: Of 649 female patients at HHM 22% (145) were screened for intestinal parasites. The mean age of study population was 50 years (range 26-75). One or more intestinal parasites were detected in 35% (51/145). Thirty percent (44/145) had only helminth infections, 2.8 % (4/145) were co-infected with helminth and commensal protozoa Entamoeba co//and 2% (3/145) had only E.coli. Of the 48 who had helminth infections 6.8% (10/145) had Ascaris lumbricoides, 10.3% (15/145) had Trichuris trichiura and 15.8% (23/145) had mixed infections of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. Proportions of patients with varying intensities of infections with respect to A, lumbricoides and T. trichiura were light in: 51.6% (16) and 55.6% (20), moderate in 45.16% (14) and 44.4% (16) and heavy in 3.2% (1) and 0% respectively. Forty six percent (67/145) and 12.5% (18/145) had been dewormed within one year and three months respectively. Thirty five percent (17/48) of parasite positive patients had been dewormed within one year. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of faeco-orally transmitted protozoan infections were scarce, the prevalence and intensity of geohelminth infections were high among the inmates of the HHM mental institution. Improvements in sanitation, provision of safe food and water and regular mass deworming are recommended.