Nutritional status of soil-transmitted helminthiasis-infected and uninfected children
Journal Title: Paediatrica Indonesiana - Year 2015, Vol 55, Issue 3
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.
Authors and Affiliations
Nelly Simarmata, Tiangsa Sembiring, Muhammad Ali
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP448539
- DOI 10.14238/pi55.3.2015.136-41
- Views 93
- Downloads 0
Selenium for acute watery diarrhea in children
Background Acute watery diarrhea remains a major health problem affecting infants and children in developing countries. Selenium deficiency may be a risk factor for diarrhea and vice versa. Few studies have been conducte...
Habitual snoring and primary enuresis in children
Background Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing is assumed to be associated with primary enuresis in children. Prolonged enuresis may cause developmental and emotional disorders, as well as poor school performance. Ob...
Early initiation of breastfeeding at Dustira Hospital
Background The infant mortality rate (IMR) in Indonesia is higher than that in other ASEAN countries. The highest rate of mortality occurs in the first 24 hours of life. Suboptimal breastfeeding initiation is a cause of...
Screening for nutritional risk in hospitalized children: comparison of two instruments
Background Malnutrition in hospitalized children has negative impact on morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and health-care cost. A simple screening tool is needed to detect hospital malnutrition risk in children.Objec...
Physical activity assessments in obese and non-obese adolescents using the Bouchard diary
Background Obesity is now a global epidemic problem. Increasedprevalence of obesity is associated with increased sedentarybeh avior and low physical activity.Objective To assess the physical activity patterns of adolesce...