The role of Ascaris lumbricoides in the nutrition of the host effect of ascariasis on digestion of protein

Lymphocyte Transformation in Malnourished Children

“…Several studies confirm the long-held clinical impression that infectious diseases adversely affect nutritional status (Venkatachalam and Patwardhan, 1953;Truswell et al, 1959;Wilson, Bressani, and Scrimshaw, 1961).…”

Effect of Ascaris infection on the nutritional status and I.Q. of children

“…It was assumed that chronic ascariasis has debilitating and incapacitating effects on the host as it may lead to malnourishment and impairment in physical and mental growth and development. Venkatachalam and Patwardhan (1953) noticed that the stools of the children constituting their study sample became solid and less frequent after Ascaris deworming. The current results showed that the infected children have lower anthropometric, blood hemoglobin and I.Q.…”

“…Firstly, there are convincing results from pig-Ascaris suum studies (Forsum et al, 1981), that reduction in food intake would be an important factor in the pathogenesis of malnutrition and growth impairment. On the other hand, in children who live on diets inadequate in protein, the presence of Ascaris in the intestine and the resulting loss of dietary proteinthrough incomplete digestion is likely to accelerate the pathological process of hypoproteinaemia (Venkatachalam and Patwardhan, 1953), and hence must be considered of great significance in the etiology of growth retardation. Secondly, round worm infection is known to produce vague gastrointestinal disturbances including diarrhea or constipation, more often the former.…”

Prevalence and risk factors for intestinal parasite infections in schoolchildren, in the city of Santarém, Pará State, Brazil

“…Most infections caused by intestinal parasites go unnoticed for years, and this is one of the causes of neglect and lack of immediate treatment. The late diagnosed symptoms may cover a number of consequences for the development of these children, which over time can present malnutrition and anemia, leading to growth retardation and low academic achievement [9][10][11][12] .…”