Contributions of ascariasis to poor nutritional status in children from Chiriqui Province, Republic of Panama

Abstract

Relationships between ascariasis and lactose digestion and between ascariasis and food transit time from mouth to caecum were investigated in young children from Chiriqui Province, Republic of Panama. The breath hydrogen method was used in both studies. Ascaris-infected children showed a significantly poorer degree of lactose digestion following a test oral load than uninfected children. Recovery of the capacity of the children to digest lactose was still not fully complete for at least 3 weeks following anthelmintic treatment. On average, the mouth-to-caecum transit time was similar in infected and uninfected children, but among the Ascaris-infected children the transit time tended to be shorter in relation to the intensity of infection. Evidence from a cross-sectional survey indicated that ascariasis was significantly associated with reduced plasma vitamin A and carotenoid concentrations. This relationship remained after controlling for a range of socio-economic variables. Ascaris-infected children were frequently found to have lower haematocrits and blood haemoglobin concentrations than uninfected children, but these relationships could not be attributed to ascariasis alone.

Impact of intestinal helminthes infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.

“…Heavy S. mansoni infected children in Brazil (above 400 eggs/g of stool) showed 2.74 fold higher risk of stunting compared to uninfected children [27].Ascariasis cause malnutrition in addition to pathology associated the worm migration in the body. Chronic dysentery associated with trichuriasis is also a major problem in malnutrition and health of school children [28].Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been classified as low income countries with 20% of poverty in both urban and rural areas [29].Low socio-economic status or low accessibility of food (poverty) in…”

Impact of intestinal helminthes infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.

“…Heavy S. mansoni infected children in Brazil (above 400 eggs/g of stool) showed 2.74 fold higher risk of stunting compared to uninfected children [27].Ascariasis cause malnutrition in addition to pathology associated the worm migration in the body. Chronic dysentery associated with trichuriasis is also a major problem in malnutrition and health of school children [28].Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been classified as low income countries with 20% of poverty in both urban and rural areas [29].Low socio-economic status or low accessibility of food (poverty) in…”

Impact of intestinal helminth infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.Impact of intestinal helminth infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.

“…Ascariasis cause malnutrition in addition to pathology associated the worm migration in the body. Chronic dysentery associated with trichuriasis is also a major problem in malnutrition and health of school children [28]. Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been classified as low income countries with 20% of poverty in both urban and rural areas [29].…”

Species-Specific Associations Between Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Micronutrients in Vietnamese Schoolchildren

“…15,16 However, epidemiological studies addressing associations between Ascaris infection and vitamin A (retinol) itself have shown conflicting results. [17][18][19][20][21][22] A recent study conducted in Kenya reported higher prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (defined as low retinol-binding protein) in Ascarisinfected preschool children. In accordance with our findings, moderate intensity infections had a stronger association with vitamin A deficiency than light infections did.…”

Impact of intestinal helminthes infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.

“…Heavy S. mansoni infected children in Brazil (above 400 eggs/g of stool) showed 2.74 fold higher risk of stunting compared to uninfected children [27].Ascariasis cause malnutrition in addition to pathology associated the worm migration in the body. Chronic dysentery associated with trichuriasis is also a major problem in malnutrition and health of school children [28].Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been classified as low income countries with 20% of poverty in both urban and rural areas [29].Low socio-economic status or low accessibility of food (poverty) in…”

Impact of intestinal helminth infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.Impact of intestinal helminth infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.

“…Ascariasis cause malnutrition in addition to pathology associated the worm migration in the body. Chronic dysentery associated with trichuriasis is also a major problem in malnutrition and health of school children [28]. Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been classified as low income countries with 20% of poverty in both urban and rural areas [29].…”

Species-Specific Associations Between Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Micronutrients in Vietnamese Schoolchildren

“…15,16 However, epidemiological studies addressing associations between Ascaris infection and vitamin A (retinol) itself have shown conflicting results. [17][18][19][20][21][22] A recent study conducted in Kenya reported higher prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (defined as low retinol-binding protein) in Ascarisinfected preschool children. In accordance with our findings, moderate intensity infections had a stronger association with vitamin A deficiency than light infections did.…”

Impact of intestinal helminthes infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.

“…Heavy S. mansoni infected children in Brazil (above 400 eggs/g of stool) showed 2.74 fold higher risk of stunting compared to uninfected children [27].Ascariasis cause malnutrition in addition to pathology associated the worm migration in the body. Chronic dysentery associated with trichuriasis is also a major problem in malnutrition and health of school children [28].Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been classified as low income countries with 20% of poverty in both urban and rural areas [29].Low socio-economic status or low accessibility of food (poverty) in…”

Impact of intestinal helminth infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.Impact of intestinal helminth infections on malnutrition and haematological indices of school-age children in Gondar town, Ethiopia.

“…Ascariasis cause malnutrition in addition to pathology associated the worm migration in the body. Chronic dysentery associated with trichuriasis is also a major problem in malnutrition and health of school children [28]. Ethiopia, the second populous nation in Africa, has been classified as low income countries with 20% of poverty in both urban and rural areas [29].…”

Species-Specific Associations Between Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Micronutrients in Vietnamese Schoolchildren

“…15,16 However, epidemiological studies addressing associations between Ascaris infection and vitamin A (retinol) itself have shown conflicting results. [17][18][19][20][21][22] A recent study conducted in Kenya reported higher prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (defined as low retinol-binding protein) in Ascarisinfected preschool children. In accordance with our findings, moderate intensity infections had a stronger association with vitamin A deficiency than light infections did.…”