[Frequency of intestinal helminthiasis and its association with iron deficiency and malnutrition in children from western Mexico].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine intestinal helminthiasis frequency and its association with malnutrition and iron deficiency.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

An analytical cross-over study was carried out on children in the municipality of Comala, Colima, Mexico. Coproparasitoscopic exams in series of three using the Kato-Katz technique were performed in all children. To evaluate the degree ofmalnutrition, the following anthropometric indices were determined: means and z-scores for weight/height, height/age, weight/age. Severe, moderate and minimal iron deficiency was considered when ferritin was: < or = 12 ng/ml, 12 to 18 ng/mL and 19 to 24 ng/mL, respectively.

RESULTS:

243 children were studied with an average age of 65.3+/-8.7 months. 60.9% (n = 148) of the children showed a decrease in ferritin levels and 2.5% (n = 6) had anemia. 16% (n = 39) had trichuriasis, 6.9% (n = 17) ascariasis and 5.3% (n = 13) had both parasites. Trichiura infection was associated with declining health (OR 11.0, CI 3.9-30.8; p<0.001) and with iron deficiency, with cut-off points of <24 ng (OR 2.0, CI 1.0-3.9, p = 0.02) and <18 ng/ dL (OR 2.2, CI 1.2-4.2, p= 0.009). Ascaris infection was not associated with malnutrition or iron deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS:

Trichiura infection was associated with declining health and slight and moderate degrees of iron deficiency.

• Authors: Celina Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, Benjamín Trujillo-Hernández, Alicia Martínez-Contreras, Alicia Pineda-Lucatero, Rebeca O Millán-Guerrero
• Journal: Gaceta medica de Mexico (Gac Med Mex) 2007 Jul-Aug Vol. 143 Issue 4 Pg. 297-300 ISSN: 0016-3813 [Print] Mexico
• Vernacular Title: Frecuencia de helmintiasis intestinal y su asociación con deficiencia de hierro y desnutrición en niños de la región occidente de México.
• PMID: 17969837 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ferritins

Topics

• Anemia, Iron-Deficiency (blood, complications, epidemiology)
• Ascariasis (epidemiology)
• Child
• Child Nutrition Disorders (complications, epidemiology)
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Over Studies
• Data Interpretation, Statistical
• Feces (parasitology)
• Female
• Ferritins (blood)
• Helminthiasis (complications, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Malnutrition (complications, epidemiology)
• Mexico (epidemiology)
• Trichuriasis (epidemiology)