This study was case control conducted in different hospitals in Khartoum state. The study involved two hundred stool samples collected from 100 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and another 100 as control. The results showed that 51 (51%) of irritable bowel syndrome patients as well as 33 (33%) of the control were harboring gastrointestinal parasites. This difference in rates was found to be statistically insignificant at p= 0.076. The study revealed that Entamoeba histolytica was seen in 22% of the IBS cases followed by Entamoeba coli in 18%, Giardia lamblia in 16%, Chilomastix mesnili in 4%, Hymenolepis nana, Taenia spp and Enterobius vermicularis in 3% each and Ascaris lumbricoides in 1%. Lower rates were reported among the control group where Entamoeba histolytica was seen in 19% of the control followed by Entamoeba coli in 15%, Giardia lamblia in 11%, Hymenolepis nana in 2%, Chilomastix mesnili, hook worm and Ascaris lumbricoides in 1% each.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal Parasites, Irritable bowel syndrome, Khartoum state, Sudan.

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