O'Gorman M A, Orenstein S R, Proujansky R, Wadowsky R M, Putnam P E, Kocoshis S A
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1993 Feb;32(2):91-6. doi: 10.1177/000992289303200206.
Blastocystis hominis, a protozoan whose pathogenicity has been questioned, is sometimes found in the human gastrointestinal tract. We sought to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis in stool and to characterize clinical features of infection with Blastocystis in children. Forty-six (3%) of 1,736 patients undergoing fecal microscopy at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1988, harbored Blastocystis. Of these 46 children, 75% had exposure to well water or had been in developing countries. Thirty-nine of the 46 (85%) experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. Blastocystis was the only parasite found in 35 of those 39 symptomatic children. Symptoms resolved within one month in 90% of patients receiving antiparasitic pharmacotherapy, but in only 58% (P < .04) of those receiving no therapy. We conclude that children infected with Blastocystis often experience gastrointestinal symptoms and that treatment increases the rate of symptomatic improvement. We speculate that Blastocystis is a human pathogen.
人芽囊原虫是一种致病性受到质疑的原生动物，有时会在人类胃肠道中被发现。我们试图确定粪便中人芽囊原虫的流行情况，并描述儿童感染人芽囊原虫的临床特征。1985年1月1日至1988年12月31日期间，在匹兹堡儿童医院接受粪便显微镜检查的1736名患者中，有46名（3%）携带人芽囊原虫。在这46名儿童中，75%接触过井水或曾去过发展中国家。46名儿童中有39名（85%）出现胃肠道症状，如腹痛、腹泻、呕吐和体重减轻。在这39名有症状的儿童中，35名儿童仅发现人芽囊原虫这一种寄生虫。接受抗寄生虫药物治疗的患者中，90%在1个月内症状缓解，但未接受治疗的患者中只有58%症状缓解（P<0.04）。我们得出结论，感染人芽囊原虫的儿童常出现胃肠道症状，治疗可提高症状改善率。我们推测人芽囊原虫是一种人类病原体。
