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August 1994, Vol 148, No. 8 >
Article | August 1994

Invasive Blastocystis hominis Infection in a Child FREE

Youhanna S. Al-Tawil, MD; Mark A. Gilger, MD; G. S. Gopalakrishna, MD; Claire Langston, MD; K. E. Bommer, MD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148(8):882-885. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1994.02170080112026.
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The association of Blastocystis hominis with human disease is controversial. Many studies1-9 have reported its association with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and weight loss. Other reports10,11 doubt its clinical pathogenicity. To our knowledge, invasive B hominis has not been found in humans. We describe a patient whose biopsy specimen was positive for B hominis colonic ulceration, which produced rectal bleeding and protein-losing enteropathy.

Patient Report. A previously healthy 4-year-old girl was hospitalized with a 3-week history of rectal bleeding. The illness started with blood-streaked stools, which progressed to watery stools, five to six times a day, and blood clots. There was no history of abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, decreased appetite, or prior antibiotic treatment. One week before admission to Texas Children's Hospital (Houston), she was seen in another hospital for fever and watery diarrhea with blood streaks. The results of the diagnostic

REFERENCES

1 +
O'Gorman MA, Orenstein SR, Proujansky R, Wadowsky RM, Putnam PE, Kocoshis SA.  Prevalence and characteristics of Blastocystis hominis infection in children . Clin Pediatr . 1993;;32:91-96.
2 +
Vannatta PB, Adamson D, Mucclican D.  Blastocystis hominis infection presenting as recurrent diarrhea . Ann Intern Med . 1985;;102:495-496.
3 +
Garcia LS, Bruckner DA, Clancy MN.  Clinical relevance of Blastocystis hominis . Lancet . 1984;;1:1233-1234.
4 +
Sheehan DJ, Raucher BG, McKitrick FC.  Association of Blastocystis hominis with signs and symptoms of human disease . J Clin Microbiol . 1986;;24:548-550.
5 +
Phillips BP, Zierdt CH.  Blastocystis hominis: pathogenic potential in human patients and in gnotobiotes . Exp Parasitol . 1976;;39:358-364.
6 +
Kain DC, Noble MA, Freeman HJ, Brteluk RL.  Epidemiology and clinical features associated with Blastocystis hominis infection . Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis . 1987;;8:235-244.
7 +
Guirges SY, Al-Waili NS.  Blastocystis hominis: evidence for human pathogenicity and effectiveness of metronidazole therapy . Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol . 1987;;14:333-335.
8 +
Gallagher PG, Venglaricik JS III.  Blastocystis hominis enteritis . Pediatr Infect Dis J . 1985;;4:556-557.
9 +
LeBar WD, Larsen EC, Patel D.  Afebrile diarrhea and Blastocystis hominis . Ann Intern Med . 1985;;103:306.
10 +
Sun T, Katz S, Tanenbaum B, Schenone C.  Questionable clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis infection . Am J Gastroenterol . 1989;;84:1543-1547.
11 +
Miller RA, Minshew BH.  Blastocystis hominis: an organism in search of a disease . Rev Infect Dis . 1988;;10:930-938.
12 +
Brumpt E.  Blastocystis hominis n species et formes voisines . Bull Soc Pathol Exot . 1912;;56:725-730.
13 +
Zierdt CH, Rude WS, Bull BS.  Protozoan characteristics of Blastocystis hominis . Am J Clin Pathol . 1967;;48:495-501.
14 +
Zierdt CH.  Blastocystis hominis: past and future . Clin Microbiol Rev . 1991;; 4:61-79.
15 +
Grossman I, Weiss L, Simon D, Tanowitz H, Wittner M.  Blastocystis hominis in hospital employees . Am J Gastroenterol . 1992;;87:729-732.
16 +
Qadri SMH, Al-Okaili GA, Al-Dayel F.  Clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis . J Clin Microbiol . 1989;;27:2407-2409.
17 +
Narkewicz MR, Janoff EN, Sokol RJ, Levin MJ.  Blastocystis hominis gastroenteritis in a hemophiliac with AIDS . J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr . 1989;;8: 125-128.
18 +
Garavelli PL.  Blastocytosis: a new disease in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome? Int J STD AIDS . 1990;;1:91-92.
19 +
Zierdt CH, Swan JC, Hosseni J.  In vitro response of Blastocystis hominis to antiprotozoal drugs . J Protozool . 1983;;30:332-334.

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References

1 +
O'Gorman MA, Orenstein SR, Proujansky R, Wadowsky RM, Putnam PE, Kocoshis SA.  Prevalence and characteristics of Blastocystis hominis infection in children . Clin Pediatr . 1993;;32:91-96.
2 +
Vannatta PB, Adamson D, Mucclican D.  Blastocystis hominis infection presenting as recurrent diarrhea . Ann Intern Med . 1985;;102:495-496.
3 +
Garcia LS, Bruckner DA, Clancy MN.  Clinical relevance of Blastocystis hominis . Lancet . 1984;;1:1233-1234.
4 +
Sheehan DJ, Raucher BG, McKitrick FC.  Association of Blastocystis hominis with signs and symptoms of human disease . J Clin Microbiol . 1986;;24:548-550.
5 +
Phillips BP, Zierdt CH.  Blastocystis hominis: pathogenic potential in human patients and in gnotobiotes . Exp Parasitol . 1976;;39:358-364.
6 +
Kain DC, Noble MA, Freeman HJ, Brteluk RL.  Epidemiology and clinical features associated with Blastocystis hominis infection . Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis . 1987;;8:235-244.
7 +
Guirges SY, Al-Waili NS.  Blastocystis hominis: evidence for human pathogenicity and effectiveness of metronidazole therapy . Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol . 1987;;14:333-335.
8 +
Gallagher PG, Venglaricik JS III.  Blastocystis hominis enteritis . Pediatr Infect Dis J . 1985;;4:556-557.
9 +
LeBar WD, Larsen EC, Patel D.  Afebrile diarrhea and Blastocystis hominis . Ann Intern Med . 1985;;103:306.
10 +
Sun T, Katz S, Tanenbaum B, Schenone C.  Questionable clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis infection . Am J Gastroenterol . 1989;;84:1543-1547.
11 +
Miller RA, Minshew BH.  Blastocystis hominis: an organism in search of a disease . Rev Infect Dis . 1988;;10:930-938.
12 +
Brumpt E.  Blastocystis hominis n species et formes voisines . Bull Soc Pathol Exot . 1912;;56:725-730.
13 +
Zierdt CH, Rude WS, Bull BS.  Protozoan characteristics of Blastocystis hominis . Am J Clin Pathol . 1967;;48:495-501.
14 +
Zierdt CH.  Blastocystis hominis: past and future . Clin Microbiol Rev . 1991;; 4:61-79.
15 +
Grossman I, Weiss L, Simon D, Tanowitz H, Wittner M.  Blastocystis hominis in hospital employees . Am J Gastroenterol . 1992;;87:729-732.
16 +
Qadri SMH, Al-Okaili GA, Al-Dayel F.  Clinical significance of Blastocystis hominis . J Clin Microbiol . 1989;;27:2407-2409.
17 +
Narkewicz MR, Janoff EN, Sokol RJ, Levin MJ.  Blastocystis hominis gastroenteritis in a hemophiliac with AIDS . J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr . 1989;;8: 125-128.
18 +
Garavelli PL.  Blastocytosis: a new disease in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome? Int J STD AIDS . 1990;;1:91-92.
19 +
Zierdt CH, Swan JC, Hosseni J.  In vitro response of Blastocystis hominis to antiprotozoal drugs . J Protozool . 1983;;30:332-334.

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