Pattern of E. histolytica infection and its correlates among patients in a general practice clinic: A four-year retrospective evaluation

Background: Overcrowding, poor hygiene and scarcity of portable water are common features of population growth in a resource poor nation especially with rising cost of living from inflation. This is the often the state of many underdeveloped nations such as Nigeria. Such environments encourage the spread of communicable diseases. This study assess the pattern, trend, and at-risk population of Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), implicated in intestinal Amoebiasis in South-South Nigeria. Method: This retrospective study was conducted using hospital data obtained from the laboratory department of a general hospital clinic in Warri and covered a period of four years from January 2015 - December 2018. The record of 4,169 laboratory results of stool samples examined by direct smear and concentration technique, were recovered from a designed computer database. Trend of infection over the period as well as variations in distribution patterns between sex, age and seasons were determined using appropriate statistical tools. Results: Out of the 4,169 stool samples 365 (8.8%) had E. histolytica with decreasing trend of infection from 2015 – 2018 as 135 of 1210 (11%); 118 of 1114 (10.6%); 57 of 792 (7.2%); 55 of 1053 (5.2%) respectively. Prevalence of infections was higher in females, 57.5% (95CI%, 51.7-59.7, n= 210) than males (n=155, 42.5%, 95%CI, 40.3-48.6). The prevalence of infections was highest among Age brackets 1-5years, 6-15 years and 35+ years; but lowest in the 26-35 years with peak season of infections at first and last quarters of each year. Conclusions: Children are more vulnerable to E. histolytica infestation and the dry seasons of the year place them at risk. This information underscores the need for local surveillance to evaluate the effectiveness of control and preventive health measures with a view of reducing the prevalence and morbidity of parasitic infections in our locality.