ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical findings and the effects of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in cases of blastocystosis. A total of 37 cases whose stool specimens were sent to the parasitology laboratory from the outpatient clinics of our hospital for various reasonswere included in the study. Only five or more Blastocystis hominis were found during examination with direct wet mount using the 40x objective. The stool specimens were tested for other agents (Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Escherichia coli H157:07, rotavirus) and cases with one of these were excluded from the study. The cases with blastocystosis were given TMP-SMX for 7 days. After the treatment, the cases were questioned as to symptoms once again, the stool specimen examinations were repeated with the same methods, and the results were evaluated. In 34 (91.89%) out of the 37 cases where B. hominis was found, various clinical symptoms such as stomach ache, flatulence, diarrhea, itching and fever were observed singly and/or together. After the treatment it was found that 36 (97.3%) out of 37 cases improved. This study supports the premise that TMP-SXT is effective in the treatment of B. hominis.

Keywords: Blastocystis hominis, treatment, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole