Assessment of the Health Status of Spanish Schoolchildren Based on Nutrimetry, Lifestyle and Intestinal Parasites

Abstract

Malnutrition in Spanish schoolchildren, and its relationship with lifestyles, has been studied, but Nutrimetry (a nutritional status indicator), and data on intestinal parasitism and its risk factors, have never before been taken into account. A total of 206 children aged 3–11 years, from two schools in the Valencian Community, participated. Demographic characteristics, diet, lifestyles, behavioural habits and anthropometric (weight, height) and coproparasitological data were collected. Nutrimetry was used to analyse nutritional status. Statistical analyses were performed to ascertain associations between lifestyle, selected parasite species and nutritional status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the strength of the association of the suspected risk factors with the presence of intestinal parasitism. The prevalence of overweight was 32.6%. A total of 43.9% had a high adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, for which mean daily intake was 2428.7 kcal. Intestinal parasitism was identified in 49.5% of the children (Giardia duodenalis: 28.6%). The source of drinking water was found to be a risk factor for intestinal parasitism. No positive association between the variables analysed and nutritional status could be confirmed. Nutrimetry is a good indicator for a complete analysis of nutritional status. It highlights the prevalence of overweight. Intestinal parasitism was identified in almost half of the participants and is a variable that should not be underestimated.

Gastrointestinal parasitosis diagnosed by colonoscopy as cause of weight loss in 46-year-old woman with three negative stool tests for presence of parasites

“…In a study conducted on a group of 206 schoolchildren in Spain, it was found that the incidence of intestinal parasitosis is as high as 49.5%, while the incidence of multiple infections was estimated at 14.6%. Infections were mainly caused by Giardia intestinalis, Blastocystis sp., and Enterobius vermicularis [14]. It is worth noting that Spain is a country with a socioeconomic status similar to Poland.…”