The role Blastocistis hominis in the development of colitis in children

UVOD: Blastocistis hominis (Bh) je najrasprostranjeniji protist na našoj planeti, ali pri tome najkontraverzniji. Infekcija Bh počinje ingestijom hrane ili tečnosti koja je kontaminirana cističnom formom Bh. Nakon gutanja, iz ciste se razvijaju u debelom crevu čoveka vakuolarne forme protista. Fekalno - oralni prenos je najčešći put širenja infekcije. Oboljenje koje Bh izaziva kod ljudi naziva se blastocistoza. Najčešće inficirani imaju gastrointestinalne tegobe, pre svega bol u trbuhu i proliv. Blastocistoza se danas povezuje sa dva klinička entiteta koji predstavljaju poremećaj rada creva, odnosno sindromom iritabilnog creva i hroničnom inflamatornom bolesti creva (HIBC). CILJ RADA I HIPOTEZE: Predmet istraživanja je da se utvrdi povezanost prisustva infekcije Blastocistis hominisom i postojanja zapaljenja sluzokože debelog creva (kolitisa) kod dece sa gastrointestinalnim tegobama, zatim da se utvrdi udeo dece sa posebnom formom kolitisa, hroničnom inflamatornom bolesti creva, među inficiranim Blastocistis hominisom, a da bi se omogućilo bolje razumevanje blastocistoze kod dece. Osnovne hipoteze u istraživanju su statistički značajno veća učestalost pojave kolitisa i hronične inflamatorne bolesti creva kod dece uzrasta od 1 meseca do 18 godina, hospitalizovane zbog bola u trbuhu i/ili proliva koji su inficirani Blastocistis hominisom, kao i statistički značajno veća učestalost kolitisa u odnosu na hroničnu inflamatornu bolest creva u istom uzorku. MATERIJAL I METODE: Prospektivnim ispitivanjem su obuhvaćeni pedijatrijski bolesnici, hospitalizovani na Odeljenju za gastroenterologiju, hepatologiju i ishranu, Instituta za zdravstvenu zaštitu dece i omladine Vojvodine, zbog bola u trbuhu i/ili proliva, iz čije stolice je dokazan Blastocistis hominis. U toku ispitivanja primenjene su standardne metode uzimanja anamneza od bolesnika, fizički pregledi, odgovarajuće standardne laboratorijske analize krvi i stolice, ultrazvučni pregled abdomena, kolonoskopija i patohistološki pregled biopsija debelog creva. Svi bolesnici su lečeni metronidazolom u trajanju 10 dana, prema važećim terapijskim protokolima. REZULTATI: Ispitivanjem je obuhvaćeno 102 bolesnika, koji su an osnovu patohistološkog nalaza podeljeni u tri grupe: 1. Grupa (bolesnici koji nemaju kolitis, obuhvatila je 4 bolesnika (4.4%)), 2. Grupa – (bolesnici koji imaju nespecifični kolitis, obuhvatila je 56 bolesnika (56.55%)) i 3. Grupa –(bolesnici koji imaju hroničnu inflamatornu bolest, obuhvatila je 42 bolesnika (42.41%)). Među ispitanicima je bio podjednak broj dece muškog i ženskog pola, odnosno 51 dečak i 51 devojčica. Uzrast ispitanika koji imaju infekciju Blastocistisom hominisom se kretao u interval od 11 meseci do 17 godina i 7 meseci. Medijana je iznosila 12.54 godine, a prosečna starost 11.25 godine. Blastocistoza nema sezonski karakter (χ2=0.667; df=3; p=0,881). Značajno više inficiranih Blastocistis hominisom živelo u kući, nego u stanu i posedovalo domaće životinje i/ili kućne ljubimce, ali ne postojanje odgovarajućih higijenskih uslova, kanalizacije i vodovoda nije prediktivni faktor za razvoj infekcije Blastocistis hominisom, kao ni pohađanje kolektiva ili život u ruralnom sredinama. Stariji uzrast deteta (p=0,020) i život u kući (p = 0,033) su prediktivni faktori za pojavu hronične inflamatorne bolesti creva kod dece sa kolitisom. Deca sa blastocistozom su imala antropometrijske parametre u granicama normale.Ispitanici najčešće bili primljeni u bolnicu pod djagnozom gastroenterokolitisa, zbog proliva i bola u trbuhu, a da prisustvo gastrointestinalnih tegoba i prisustvo opštih znakova infekcije nisu jedan od sigurnih kliničkih značajnih znakova infekcije Blastocistis hominisom. Prisustvo patoloških primesa u stolici nije jedan od sigurnih klinički značajnih znakova infekcije Blastocistis hominisom.Na osnovu laboratorijskog, kliničkog i endoskopskog skora za aktivnost HIBC većina bolesnika je imala umerenu aktivnost.Inficirani sa Bh imaju najčešće C-reaktivni protein u okvirima refentnih vrednosti, izuzev ukoliko nemaju i HIBC. Povišena sedimentacija eritrocita je karakteristična za bolesnike sa HIBC. Oboleli od blastocistoze imaju najčesce imunoglobulin A, leukocite, neutrofile i eozinofile u krvi u referentnim granicama.Vrednosti feremije upućuju da je većina ispitanika bila anemična, a naročito deca koja su imala i infekciju sa Bh i HIBC. Kod bolesnika sa blastocistozom, postojanje pozitivnog testa na okultnu krv u stolici, treba da pobudi sumnju na udruženu HIBC. Ispitanici sa infekcijom Bh i sa HIBC su imali najčešće kvantitativno veći broj Bh u stolici. Mezenterajalni limfadenitis i splenomegalija su nespecifični ultrazvučni nalaz kod inficiranih sa Bh, iako su bili najčešće opisane patološke promene na ultrazvuku abdomena. Zaključujemo da su ispitanici najčešće imali nespecifične endoskopske promene i patohistološke promene u debelom crevu. Metronidazol je bezbedan i efikasan, u dozi 15-50 mg/kg/dan, u trajanju od 10 dana, u terapiji infekcije sa Bh kod dece. ZAKLJUČAK: Deca inficirana sa Bh imaju najčešće colitis od patoloških promena na debelom crevu, bez značajne razlike između nespecifičnog kolitisa i HIBC. Značajno manje inficiranih sa Bh ima uredan kolonoskopski nalaz.Utvrđivanja značaja Blastocistis hominisa u nastanku kolitisa i hronične inflamatorne bolesti creva kod dece, doprinosi prihvatanju Blastocistisa hominisa kao patogena i ukazuje na nephodnost njegovog lečenja.INTRODUCTION: Blastocystis hominis (Bh) is the most outspread protist on our planet, but also the most controversial. Infection Bh starts by digestion of the eaten food or liquid which has been contained by a cyst form Bh. After swallowing, from the cyst they grow (progress) in the colon of the human, with a vacuolar form of a protest. Oral transmission is the most common way of spreading the infection. The disease caused by Bh on humans is called blastocystisis. In most cases the infected humans have gastrointestinal complaints, the most common are abdominal pain and diarrhea. Blastocystis is nowadays connected to two clinical disease, the irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). THE AIM AND HYPOTHESESS: The subject of research is to establish the connection between the presence of the infection Bh and the existence of mucosal inflammation of the colon in children with gastrointestinal complaints, as well as to establish the group of the children with a special form of colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and the ones infected by Bh, wich would insure better understanding of the blastocystosis in children. The basic hypothesis in the study were statistically significantly higher incidence of chronic colitis and inflammatory bowel disease in children aged 1 month to 18 years, hospitalized for abdominal pain and/or diarrhea who are infected Bh, as well as significantly higher incidence of colitis compared in chronic inflammatory bowel disease in the same sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective study included pediatric patients with abdominal pain and/or diarrhea, and stool positive on Bh, that have been hospitalized on the Department for gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, in the Institution for Health Care of Children and Youth in Vojvodina. The standard testing methods were used: anamnesis, physical examination, laboratory analysis of blood and stool, ultrasound examination of the abdomen, colonoscopy and histopathological examination of the biopsy of the colon. All patients have been treated with metronidazole for 10 days, according to the applicable protocols. RESULTS: The study included 102 patients, which are divided into three groups : 1. group (patients that have no colitis, included 4 patients (4.4%)), 2. group (patients with unspecified colitis, included 56 patients (56.55%)) and 3. group (patients with inflammatory bowel disease, included 42 patients (42.41%)). Among them, there was an equal number of children that were male and female, 51 boys and 51 girls. Age of respondents who have Bh infection ranged from 11 months to 17 years and 7 months. The median is 12.54 years, and the average age of 11.25 years. Blastocistosis no have seasonal character (χ2 = 0.667, df = 3, p = 0.881). Significantly more infected Blastocistis hominid lived in the house, but in an apartment owned and domestic animals and / or pets,yet the existence of appropriate hygiene, sanitation and water supply is not a predictive factor for the development of infection Bh, as well as attending the collective or life in rural areas . The older child's age (p = 0.020) and life at home (p = 0.033) were predictive factors for development of inflammatory bowel disease in children with colitis. Children with blastocistosis had anthropometric parameters within normal limits. Respondents most frequently been admitted to hospital under diagnosis gastroenteritis due to diarrhea and abdominal pain, and that the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms and general signs of infection are not a significant clinical signs of infection Bh. The presence of pathological findings in stool is not one of reliable signs of clinically infection Bh. Based on laboratory findings, clinical and endoscopic activity score for IBD most patients had moderate activity of desease. Children with Bh infection usually have normal C-reactive protein in terms of value, unless if have IBD. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is characteristic of patients with IBD. Children with blastocistosis usually have normal level of Immunoglobulin A, leukocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils. Serum iron indicate that most subject were anemic, especially children who have had an infection with the Bh and IBD.Children with blastocistosis, the existence of a positive test for occult blood in the stool, should arouse suspicion of association IBD. Subject with IBD had mostly quantitatively greater number of Bh in the stool. Mesenterial lymphadenitis and splenomegaly are non-specific ultrasound findings in infected with Bh, although they were usually described pathological changes in abdominal ultrasound. This is to conclude that the subject usually had colitis and IBD changes in endoscopic and histopathological changes in the colon. Metronidazole has beem proved safe and effective, at 15-50 mg/ kg/day for 10 days in the treatment of infections in children with Bh. CONCLUSION: Children infected with Bh colitis usually have pathological changes in the large intestine, with no significant difference between the non-specific colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Significantly less infected with Bh has a normal colonoscopy findings. Confirmed the importance of Bh in the development of chronic colitis and inflammatory bowel disease in children, increase public acceptance Blastocistisa hominis as pathogens and points to the necessity of treatment