Nutritional status of soil-transmitted helminthiasis-infected and uninfected children

Abstract

Background Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections remain a public health problem in developing countries. Their prevalence is particularly high in rural areas with people of low socioeconomic level. A single or mixed STH infection rarely causes death, but can affect nutritional status, growth, cognitive development and human health, especially in children.Objective To compare the nutritional status of STH-infected and uninfected children.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2010 in children from 3 primary schools in the Simpang Empat and Kabanjahe Subdistricts, Karo District, North Sumatera Province. Fecal examinations were done by the Kato-Katz method to diagnose STH infections. Participants of this study consisted of 140 infected children and 141 uninfected children. Nutritional status classification was based on the 2000 Centers for Disease Control growth charts. All categorical data were analyzed by Chi-square test.Results Of 140 infected children, 8.6% were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, 17.1% with Trichuris trichiura and 74.3% with mixed infections (Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura). We found significantly more STH infected children with mild to moderate malnutrition than the uninfected group. We also found significantly more mildly to moderately malnourished children with moderate infection intensity than mild infection intensity.Conclusion We find significantly more STH infected children with mild to moderate malnutrition than the uninfected group. We also find significantly more mildly to moderately malnourished children with moderate infection intensity than mild infection intensity. Higher severity of infection is associated with lower nutritional status.

Ancylostomaduodenale and Ascarislumbricoides Mixed Infection in Pregnant Woman in Maharashtra

“…The species for Ancylostomaduodenale and Ascarislumbricoides can be identified easily from the morphology of adult worms, but sometimes identification becomes difficult by using the morphology of egg. [8,17,23,24,25]…”

Antihelmintic Treatment And Strategy To Eliminate Soil-Transmitted Helminth In Children

“…These chronic infections have significant consequences in both growth and development. 6 Other high-risk groups susceptible to morbidity caused by STH were preschool-aged children (PSAC) and women of reproductive age (WRA), but these groups did not get attention as much as SAC. 5,7 Soil-transmitted helminth infection was a longstanding public health problem, particularly in developing countries.…”

“…The higher prevalence found in rural low socioeconomic populations. 6 Other attributes of helminth infection were rapid reinfection after treatment without significant acquired immunity and an aggregated distribution (few individuals harbor a high number of parasites). 3 Although a single or mixed soil-transmitted helminth infection rarely caused death, nutritional status, growth, cognitive development, and human health were greatly impacted, particularly in children.…”

“…3 Although a single or mixed soil-transmitted helminth infection rarely caused death, nutritional status, growth, cognitive development, and human health were greatly impacted, particularly in children. 6 WHO recommended an integrated approach to the control of neglected tropical diseases to avoid duplication of effort and to reduce costs. 8 WHO recommended a control strategy through mass drug administration (MDA).…”

Prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminths in Elementary School Students with Behavioral Risk Factors

“…The high prevalence of STH infection cases is caused by several complementary risk factors, including tropical climate factors which provide ideal conditions for the development of worm eggs (Supriastuti, 2006;Shang Y., 2010), unhealthy life behavior factors include, habits. defecation, how to eat and use footwear (Simarmata, N., 2015;Ahdal, MT, 2014), not washing hands, not cutting nails regularly (Rahmayanti, 2014), defecating (BAB) carelessly (Wahyuni, D. 2016) ). T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides infections typically affect children 5-10 years of age.…”