Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica are protozoan parasites causing marked morbidity
in Egyptian children. A case-control random study was conducted from September to January
2020 and included 49 children (1-18 years) attending Al Hussein University Hospital, Cairo,
Egypt. They had amoebiasis (30 cases) and giardiasis (19 cases) and considered as the study
group. Another 50 healthy persons were considered as a control group. All cases were subjected
to the estimation of serum levels of Zinc, Copper, and Iron.
Serum Zinc level was significantly decreased in the infected group than the control group.
The mean and standard deviation in the study group was 66.83±8.60 (amoebiasis was
65.64±8.26 & giardiasis was 68.71±9.01) compared to the control group 95.67±8.34. Serum
Copper was significantly increased in infected group than control group. The mean and standard
deviation was 129.93±19.45, for the amoebiasis was 130.63±20.17 and giardiasis was
128.81±18.76 as compared to the control group 85.07±6.29.
Serum Iron level was significantly decreased in the infected group than the control group. The
mean and standard deviation in the study group was 50.63±5.23 (amoebiasis was 49.96±5.61 &
giardiasis was 51.69±4.50) compared to the control group 82.87±9.28.