Objective: To investigate the prevalence, species distribution, temporal trends, and associated demographic and clinical factors of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) among symptomatic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Tizi-Ouzou Province, North-central Algeria, over a seven-year period (2018–2024).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using laboratory records of 2568 stool examinations performed at the Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory of the Nedir Mohamed University Hospital Center. Parasitological diagnoses had been established using standard techniques, including direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration, and Scotch tape test. Prevalence rates were calculated, and associations with sex, age, hospital status, and hospital unit were evaluated using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests.

Results: The overall prevalence of IPIs was 28.4% (95% CI 26.7-30.2). Infection rates were higher in males (30.8%) than females (24.9%), in adults compared with children (30.8% vs. 21.9%), and in outpatients compared with inpatients (30.3% vs. 19.9%). Protozoa predominated (94.4%), with Blastocystis spp. as the most frequently detected parasite, increasing from 7.3% in 2018 to 22.2% in 2024. Dientamoeba fragilis also showed a rising trend (2.2% to 7.2%). Co-infections were observed in 5.3% of cases, mainly involving Blastocystis spp. A decline in prevalence was noted in 2020, likely related to COVID-19 hygiene measures.

Conclusions: IPIs remain highly prevalent among symptomatic patients in this region, with emerging protozoan species representing a growing public health concern. further prospective, multicenter studies incorporating molecular diagnostics and environmental investigations are essential to better understand the transmission dynamics of IPIs and validate these findings across diverse geographical regions and healthcare settings.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of albendazole in pediatric toxocariasis.

Methods: This interventional study was conducted over a 6-month period, enrolling 117 children aged 3-15 years between 2023 and 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. All patients received oral albendazole at a dosage of 15 mg/kg/day, divided into two daily doses, for five consecutive days. Treatment efficacy was assessed at 6 months based on the following criteria: (1) resolution or marked improvement of clinical symptoms; (2) negative ELISA serology; (3) normalization or significant reduction of eosinophil (EOS) counts to within the normal range; and (4) normalization or significant reduction of total IgE levels.

Results: After six months, significant reductions were observed in white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil (NEU) count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet (PLT) count, EOS count, ELISA optical density (OD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine levels (all P<0.05). Age-stratified analysis revealed that children aged 3-11 years showed statistically significant improvements in OD levels and EOS counts compared to baseline (P<0.05). The overall treatment recovery rate was 28%.

Conclusions: The cure rate for pediatric toxocariasis following a five-day albendazole regimen remains modest. Further research is required to optimize treatment durations and regimens to improve clinical outcomes in children.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of post COVID-19 conditions, functional disability impacting daily living, and associated sociodemographic determinants.

Methods: In this cross-sectional door-to-door survey, post COVID-19 conditions were identified. Functional impairment was assessed using EuroQoL five-dimension five-level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. Relative risk of symptoms in the COVID-19 positive group as compared to the symptoms in the COVID-19 negative group was calculated. Chi-square test with subsequent Bonferroni's correction was performed to analyze the association of symptoms with age categories, sex and severity of infection. P value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results: Out of 57610 persons surveyed, COVID-19 test reports were available for 34602 (1799 positive and 32 803 negative) respondents. Post COVID-19 complaints were significantly more prevalent in infected individuals, including loss of taste (RR 8.82, 95% CI 4.77-16.31, P<0.01), loss of smell (RR 7.29, 95% CI 3.7414.22, P<0.01), fatigue (RR 2.97, 95% CI 2.56-3.44, P<0.01), muscle pains (RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.59-2.18, P<0.01). EQ-5D-5L scores reflected greater difficulty in mobility, self-care, daily activities, and mental health among the infected group, especially in moderate to severe cases.

Conclusions: The survey highlights a significantly higher burden of post COVID-19 complaints and functional limitations among COVID-19 positive individuals. These findings underscore the necessity for long-term management strategies to mitigate the burden of post COVID-19 conditions and poor functional status.

Rationale: Mycotic aortic aneurysm (MAA) is uncommon, accounting for 1%-3% of all aortic aneurysms. Delayed treatment carries a high risk of rapid enlargement, rupture, and death. MAA may spread contiguously from an abdominal aortic source to the adjacent vertebrae and psoas, resulting in spondylodiscitis and psoas abscess. MAA is an uncommon but life-threatening condition. The simultaneous presentation of an MAA with both spondylodiscitis and an iliopsoas abscess (IPA) represents an exceedingly rare and fatal triad of complications from invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella infection.

Patient concerns: A 59-year-old male presented with progressive low back pain and intermittent fever for about 6 six weeks. Imaging revealed multiple infrarenal mycotic aortic aneurysms, an L3-L4 spondylodiscitis, and extensive bilateral IPAs. Blood and abscess cultures identified Salmonella group D1.

Diagnosis: Salmonellosis associated with mycotic aortic aneurysm.

Intervention: The endovascular stent-graft repair was implanted combined parenteral antibiotics, with initial clinical improvement after surgical debridement for abscess.

Outcome: He represented with recurrent Salmonella bacteremia three months later and subsequently expired.

Lessons: Physician must keep a high index of suspicion for an underlying MAA in patients presenting with spondylodiscitis or IPA. It tragically illustrates the significant risk of treatment failure with endovascular stent-graft repair, emphasizing that rigorous long-term surveillance is essential for patients managed with this approach.