Effects of Intestinal Parasitic Infections on Haematological Profiles of Patients attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

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Introduction: Intestinal parasites, commonly Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH), are widespread in tropical regions and cause major illness, disability, malnutrition, and anaemia. They disrupt growth, development, micronutrient balance, cognition, and increase susceptibility to other infections. Protozoan diseases such as amoebiasis, giardiasis, and cryptosporidiosis also significantly affect. Aim: To evaluate the impact of Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPIs) on haematological parameters. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Microbiology Department of a tertiary care hospital in Kalyani, Nadia district, West Bengal, India. A total of 133 stool samples received in the parasitology laboratory for diagnostic screening between August 2022 and July 2024 were included in the study. Haematological parameters such as Haemoglobin (Hb), Haematocrit (HCT), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), along with Total Leukocyte Counts (TLC) and Absolute Eosinophil Counts (AEC), were measured using automated Complete Blood Count (CBC) analysers. The data were analysed using statistical software (e.g., Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25.0). A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 133 patients, the prevalence of IPIs in males and females was 16/78 (20.5%) and 9/55 (16.4%), respectively. Out of 44 parasites identified, predominant ones were Entamoeba spp 29 (66%), Strongyloides stercoralis 6 (13.6%), Giardia lamblia 5 (11.4%), Hookworm 2 (4.5%), and Blastocystis hominis and Cryptosporidium 1 each (2.3%). Infected patients’ haemoglobin levels were lower (mean Hb 9.43 g/dL) than controls (mean Hb 12.08 g/dL). Eosinophilia, raised haematocrit, and decreased MCV levels were noted in the infected patients. Maximum anaemia (9.3 g/dL) was seen with hookworm infection, and eosinophilia (15.2%) was seen in mixed infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of Entamoeba spp., Strongyloides stercoralis, and Giardia spp. indicates continuing transmission within the community. The concomitant haematological abnormalities suggest that these infections have systemic implications beyond the gastrointestinal tract. These findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis, frequent screening, and targeted therapies such as deworming programs.

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