STUDY ON THE LATENT IRON DEFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH TRICHURIASIS

Abstract

Trichuriasis is an intestinal parasitic disease which is caused by Trichuris trichiura, a soil transmitted helminth. In order to evaluate the iron status of trichuriasis in patients a total of 120 (49 males and 71 females) cases with Trichuris trichiura as well as 54 healthy individuals were evaluated. Blood samples were analyzed for serum iron, transferrin saturation percent, haemoglobin and other haematological indices. Anaemia based on haemoglobin level less than 13 mg/dI in males and less than 12 mg/dI in females were found in 10 (7 males and 3 females) patients. Of remaining 110 non anaemic patients 11% (14.3% of males and 8.8% in females) would be classified as iron deficient by serum iron and 6% by transferrin saturation percent. These findings suggest that serum iron and percent transferrin saturation are valid and sensitive tests for detecting iron deficiency in these patients; and T.trichiura infection is associated with high incidence of iron deficiency.