Intestinal Parasitic Infection and their Hematological Impact among Infants and Children in Duhok/Iraq

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among infants and children and assess their effects on selected blood parameters in Duhok Province, Iraq. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2024 to February 2025 among 550 infants and children of both sexes aged <1–15 years. Stool samples were examined macroscopically and microscopically using Direct Wet Mount, Zinc Sulfate Concentration, and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen techniques for parasite detection, particularly Cryptosporidium spp. In addition, 50 blood samples were collected from 25 infected and 25 non-infected children to evaluate selected hematological parameters. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 21.27%, with a slightly higher prevalence among males than females (22.03% vs. 20.45%). The highest prevalence occurred among children aged <1–5 years (24.87%). Protozoa were predominant (23.27%), with Entamoeba spp. accounting for 18.73%, while helminths were detected in 1.09% of cases. Infected children showed slightly lower mean Hb and RBC counts and higher WBC and eosinophil counts, although most differences were non-significant (P>0.05). A significant reduction in RBC count was observed among infected females, while eosinophil counts were significantly increased among children aged 11–15 years (P=0.0015). These findings indicate a considerable prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among children in Duhok and highlight the need for further investigation of their hematological effects.