Background: Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been grouped under low income countries. Stunting, underweight and wasting in school children in Ethiopia are very common. The aim of this research was to evaluate the nutritional status compared to WHO standards and impact of intestinal helminthes on normal growth, normal hematological and biochemical values in the school children in Azezo Elementary School in Gondar Town. Methods: Demographic data and information about possible risk factors were obtained using standard pre-tested questioners for all study subjects. WHO AnthroPlus software version 1.04 (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) were used to classify school children as normal, stunted, wasted and obese after height and body weight measurements were obtained. The Kato Katz technique was performed to screen students for intestinalhelmenthinfections and calculate eggs per gram stool (epg). Haematological and biochemical normal values were obtained from hematology fully-automated cell counter (Mindray BC-3200) and Mindray BS-200E chemistry analyzer. Results: Atotal of 384 school children with age ranged from 7 to 15 years old were recruited in this study. Of the total school children analysed for body mass index and height for age Z scores (BAZ and HAZ scores), 103 (26.8%) were wasted (Z scores < -2SD) and 47 (12.2%) stunted (< -2SD). Gender showed no statistically significantly differences (p>0.05) for BAZ and HAZ. The prevalence of overall stunting in 7-10 age group was 0.7% (1/146) compared to 19.5% (46/236) in 11-15 age group (p=0.000). Intestinal helminthes infections were statistically significantly associated (p = 0.000) with hypo-gycocemia, hypo-proteinaemia and anemia compared with non-infected school children. The likelihood of anemia in intestinal helminth infected school children, when it was compared with uninfected was 148 times higher for both Ascarislumbericoides-Schistosomamansoni co-infection, 38 times for Hook worm, 20 times for Schistosomamansoni and 3 times for Ascarislumbericoidesmono-infection. Conclusion: Malnutrition and intestinal helminthes infections are serious problem in normal growth of the school children. Poverty associated malnutrition is the most important risk factor for stunting. Key Words: School children; Malnutrition; Intestinal Helminth infections; Nutritional status ; Gondar town

Background: Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been grouped under low income countries. Stunting, underweight and wasting in school children are very common. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of intestinal helminthesand schistosomiasison malnutrition, anaemiaand haematological indices in the school age children of Azezo Elementary School in Gondar town. Methods:Kato Katz technique was performed todetermine infection and intensity of intestinal helminthinfections. AnthroPlus software version 1.04 (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) was used to get malnutrition indiceswhile fully-automated hematologicalcell counter (Mindray BC-3200) andMindray BS-200E chemistry analyser were used to determine haematological and biochemical parametrs. Results: Atotal of 384 school childrenwere recruited in this study.The overall prevalence of helminthes infections was 45.8% (178/384) with the leading Ascarislumbericoides infection (20.6%) compared to the second leading Schistosomamansoni(17.4%)and third leading hook worm infections (13.3%).The prevalencesof body mass indexes for age Z-scores (BAZ) indices were 9.6% (37) wasting, 17.2%(66) sever thinness, 38.5%(148) thinness, 34.1% (131) normal and 0.5%(2) overweight. On the other hand, the prevalences of height for age Z-scores (HAZ) indices were 12.2%(47) stunt, 87%(334) normal and 0.8%(3) over height.Of the total 384 school age children, 335(87.2%) had normal blood glucose level (70 – 110 mg/dL) while the remaining 49 (12.8%) school age children were hypoglycemic. The number of the school children with normal total protein level (6.6 – 8 g/dL) was 259(67.4%) while the remaining 125(32.6%) school children were hypo-proteinaemic. The prevalence of anemia in the school age children was 33.1%(127).Intestinal helminthes infections were statistically significantly associated (p = 0.000) with hypo-glycemia, hypo-proteinaemia and anemia compared with non-infected school children. The likelihood of anemia in intestinal helminth infected school children, when it was compared with uninfected was 148 times higher for both Ascarislumbericoides-Schistosomamansoni co-infection, 38 times for Hook worm, 20 times for Schistosomamansoni and 3 times for Ascarislumbericoidesmono-infection. Conclusion: Intestinal helminth infections in school age children aggravate malnutrition. Prolonged malnutrition and intestinal helminth infections could result in stunting in school-age children.

Background: In Ethiopia Stunting, underweight and wasting in school children are very common. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of intestinal helminthes and schistosomiasis on malnutrition, anaemia and haematological indices in the school age children of Azezo Elementary School in Gondar town. Methods: Kato Katz technique was performed to determine infection and intensity of intestinal helminth infections. AnthroPlus software version 1.04 was used to get malnutrition indices while fully-automated haematological analyzers were used to determine haematological and biochemical parametrs. Results: Atotal of 384 school children were recruited in this study. The overall prevalence of helminth infections was 45.8% (178/384) with the leading Ascaris lumbericoides infection (20.6%) compared to the second leading Schistosoma mansoni (17.4%) and third leading hook worm infections (13.3%). The prevalences of body mass indexes for age Z-scores (BAZ) indices were 9.6% (37) very sever thinnes, 17.2% (66) sever thinness, 38.3% (147) thinness, 34.4% (132) normal and 0.5% (2) overweight. On the other hand, the prevalences of height for age Z-scores (HAZ) indices were 12.2% (47) stunt, 87% (334) normal and 0.8% (3) over height. Of the total 384 school age children, 335 (87.2%) had normal blood glucose level (70 – 110 mg/dL) while the remaining 49 (12.8%) school age children were hypoglycemic. The number of the school children with normal total protein level (6.6 – 8 g/dL) was 259 (67.4%) while the remaining 125 (32.6%) school children were hypo-proteinaemic. The prevalence of anemia in the school age children was 33.1% (127). Intestinal helminth infections were statistically significantly associated (p = 0.000) with hypo-glycemia, hypo-proteinaemia and anemia compared with non-infected school children. The likelihood of anemia in intestinal helminth infected school children, when it was compared with uninfected was 148 times higher for both Ascaris lumbericoides-Schistosoma mansoni co-infection, 38 times for Hookworm, 20 times for Schistosoma mansoni and 3 times for Ascaris lumbericoides mono-infection. Conclusion: Intestinal helminth infections in school age children aggravate malnutrition. Prolonged malnutrition and intestinal helminth infections could result in stunting in school-age children. Key Words: school children; malnutrition; intestinal helminth infections; nutritional indices; Gondar town.

Background: In Ethiopia Stunting, underweight and wasting in school children are very common. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of intestinal helminthes and schistosomiasis on malnutrition, anaemia and haematological indices in the school age children of Azezo Elementary School in Gondar town. Methods: Kato Katz technique was performed to determine infection and intensity of intestinal helminth infections. AnthroPlus software version 1.04 was used to get malnutrition indices while fully-automated haematological analyzers were used to determine haematological and biochemical parametrs. Results: Atotal of 384 school children were recruited in this study. The overall prevalence of helminth infections was 45.8% (178/384) with the leading Ascaris lumbericoides infection (20.6%) compared to the second leading Schistosoma mansoni (17.4%) and third leading hook worm infections (13.3%). The prevalences of body mass indexes for age Z-scores (BAZ) indices were 9.6% (37) very sever thinnes, 17.2% (66) sever thinness, 38.3% (147) thinness, 34.4% (132) normal and 0.5% (2) overweight. On the other hand, the prevalences of height for age Z-scores (HAZ) indices were 12.2% (47) stunt, 87% (334) normal and 0.8% (3) over height. Of the total 384 school age children, 335 (87.2%) had normal blood glucose level (70 – 110 mg/dL) while the remaining 49 (12.8%) school age children were hypoglycemic. The number of the school children with normal total protein level (6.6 – 8 g/dL) was 259 (67.4%) while the remaining 125 (32.6%) school children were hypo-proteinaemic. The prevalence of anemia in the school age children was 33.1% (127). Intestinal helminth infections were statistically significantly associated (p = 0.000) with hypo-glycemia, hypo-proteinaemia and anemia compared with non-infected school children. The likelihood of anemia in intestinal helminth infected school children, when it was compared with uninfected was 148 times higher for both Ascaris lumbericoides-Schistosoma mansoni co-infection, 38 times for Hookworm, 20 times for Schistosoma mansoni and 3 times for Ascaris lumbericoides mono-infection. Conclusion: Intestinal helminth infections in school age children aggravate malnutrition. Prolonged malnutrition and intestinal helminth infections could result in stunting in school-age children. Key Words: school children; malnutrition; intestinal helminth infections; nutritional indices; Gondar town.