Pattern of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Cirrhotic Patients in Sohag University Hospital

Chronic hepatic illness is one of the most serious health issues . Liver cirrhosis as the latest phase of chronic liver disease causes a disorder called cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction syndrome (CAIDS) . Cirrhosis comes to be a systemic disease, with several organ disorders. At this phase, patients become highly vulnerable to various infections because of CAIDS, which comprises both innate and adaptive immunity). Patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites are more liable to other complications of liver disease, including hyponatremia, refractory ascites, or hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) . Liver cirrhotic patients are considered to be as immunosuppressed and are vulnerable to a different species of entero-parasites .

Intestinal parasitic diseases have been reported in association with diabetes mellitus (DM) which is considered a predisposing factor to infection in cirrhotic patients . Immunosuppression among DM cases is due to increased blood glucose levels, which modifies several immune responses and this renders the body susceptible to various opportunistic infections comprising parasitic infections

Intestinal parasites such as Blastocystis hominis, Cryptosporidium spp., Isospora belli, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Microsporidia have appeared as significant opportunistic parasites that are responsible for severe illness in immunocompromised patients , subsequently, patients suffer from severe morbidity and high mortality).