Dientamoeba fragilis infection, a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in childhood.

Clinical and laboratory findings of 123 paediatric patients with infections due to intestinal protozoa were analysed. Dientamoeba fragilis (D.f.) was found in 102 cases. The other patients had infections with Giardia lamblia or mixed infections with several other protozoa. Acute and recurrent diarrhoea were the most common findings (56 cases), whereas abdominal pain was more common in children with chronic symptoms. Peripheral eosinophilia was present in 32% of the children with dientamoebiasis. Metronidazole, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, and erythromycin were the most effective drugs in the treatment of D.f. infections. The therapy led coincidentally to the sanitation of stools and elimination of abdominal complaints. The investigations underline the pathogenic role of D.f. in those children with gastrointestinal symptoms. Mixed infections of D.f. and Enterobius vermicularis suggest a vector bound transmission of D.f.