Correlations between intestinal parasitosis, physical growth, and psychomotor development among infants and children from rural Nicaragua.

Abstract

The correlations between malnutrition, parasitosis (especially helminth infections), and child development are complex, and studies of these interrelationships will allow health agencies to maximize screening and intervention strategies for developing countries. We examined these correlations in a cross-sectional program in Carazo State, Nicaragua. Nine hundred sixty-one children in two age strata (ages 0-24 months and ages 2-10 years) from one urban and three rural communities were screened for intestinal parasites (direct smear and ZnSO 4 flotation), malnutrition, and developmental delays. Nutritional status was determined as weight-forage (WFA), weight-for-height (WFH), and height-forage (HFA). Developmental status (normal, suspect) was determined for the four subtests of the Denver II Screening Test. The prevalence of malnutrition was 14.6% (WFA), 8.4% (WFH), and 36.3% (HFA). Parasitosis was more prevalent in children less than 24 months of age with low HFA, whereas in older children low WFA was more closely associated with parasitic infections. Ascaris and Trichuris were more prevalent in malnourished children. On the Denver II, suspect test results in all four categories (language, social, gross motor, and fine motor) were associated with low WFA, and suspect language tests were associated with both intestinal parasites (P ϭ 0.0003) and Ascaris infection in particular (P ϭ 0.044). Developmental disabilities are a significant and frequently undetected health problem in developing countries, and malnutrition associated with intestinal helminth infections may be an important contributory factor for these disabilities.

Morphometric study of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms recovered from undernourished infected mice

“…A number of issues have significantly strengthened the link between malnutrition and parasitic helminth infections other than S. mansoni (Oberhelman et al 1998, Stephenson et al 2000, Crompton & Nesheim 2002, Muniz et al 2002. All studies support the view that parasites may negatively influence the host's nutritional status, and with it, physical growth, psychomotor and educational developments are also affected (Stephenson et al 2000).…”

Prevalence and seasonal variation of human intestinal parasites in patients attending hospital with abdominal symptoms in northern Jordan

“…These infections are regarded as a serious public health problem as they can cause iron-deficiency anaemia (5,6), malnutrition (7), growth retardation in children and other physical and mental health disorders (8,9). Most clinicians and health workers do not consider parasitic infections as life threating, and most of the time they go unnoticed or are misdiagnosed (10).…”

Intestinal parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients: epidemiological, nutritional and immunological aspects

“…Recent studies have also shown that prolonged use of HAART, particularly of protease inhibitors, has an important impact on user nutritional status. The relationship between infections caused by intestinal parasites and some nutritional indicators has been proven in numerous studies involving nutritional status, infection prevalence and intensity (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Malnutrition has a serious influence on immunity aspects, including the production of cytokines and antibodies, particularly Th2 profile (21)(22)(23).…”