Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia
The study aimed to measure the frequency of occurrence of infections with helminths, protozoa, and risk factors of undernutrition and anemia among schoolchildren from the Bolivian highland (altiplano) and lowland (subtropical) rural regions, with a high frequency of gastrointestinal parasite infecti...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5020490 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832558475262033920 |
|---|---|
| author | Ceilan Apaza Washington Cuna Froilán Brañez Roberto Passera Celeste Rodriguez |
| author_facet | Ceilan Apaza Washington Cuna Froilán Brañez Roberto Passera Celeste Rodriguez |
| author_sort | Ceilan Apaza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study aimed to measure the frequency of occurrence of infections with helminths, protozoa, and risk factors of undernutrition and anemia among schoolchildren from the Bolivian highland (altiplano) and lowland (subtropical) rural regions, with a high frequency of gastrointestinal parasite infections. Cross-sectional data were collected from 790 children, 5–13 years old. Microscopic examination of stool using the Ritchie technique, hemoglobin testing using the HemoCue analyzer, and anthropometric measurements were performed. Over 60% and 20% of children were infected with protozoa and helminth parasites, respectively. Infections caused by pathogenic Hymenolepis nana (15.7–5.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (41.9–28.5%), Giardia lamblia (30.1–11.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (5.7–0.7%), and nonpathogenic Entamoeba coli (48.9–16%), Blastocystis hominis (40.2–28.5%), Iodamoeba butschli (16.1–2.5%), Chilomastix mesnili (19.2–7.3%), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (7.4–5.5%) parasites, were more prevalent in the highlands than the lowlands. Single parasitic infections were more prevalent in the lowlands; polyparasitism of light or heavy intensity predominated in the highlands. A strongly increased risk of anemia and a low prevalence of wasting were determined in children in the highlands. A higher risk for stunting was associated with children of older age, and a low burden of intestinal helminths would prevent wasting in children of highlands. Infections with A. lumbricoides and G. lamblia pathogens in older children were not significant covariates for stunting. Environmental, nutritional, and parasitic factors may predispose to anemia in the highlands. A nutritional intervention and parasite control effort will substantially improve children´s health in the highlands. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b0fff38822994766a6731aa23cfd698e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9694 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-b0fff38822994766a6731aa23cfd698e2025-02-03T01:32:19ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96942023-01-01202310.1155/2023/5020490Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of BoliviaCeilan Apaza0Washington Cuna1Froilán Brañez2Roberto Passera3Celeste Rodriguez4Hospital Municipal de ChulumaniUnidad de Inmunología ParasitariaUnidad de Laboratorio ClínicoUniversity of TurinUnidad de Inmunología ParasitariaThe study aimed to measure the frequency of occurrence of infections with helminths, protozoa, and risk factors of undernutrition and anemia among schoolchildren from the Bolivian highland (altiplano) and lowland (subtropical) rural regions, with a high frequency of gastrointestinal parasite infections. Cross-sectional data were collected from 790 children, 5–13 years old. Microscopic examination of stool using the Ritchie technique, hemoglobin testing using the HemoCue analyzer, and anthropometric measurements were performed. Over 60% and 20% of children were infected with protozoa and helminth parasites, respectively. Infections caused by pathogenic Hymenolepis nana (15.7–5.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (41.9–28.5%), Giardia lamblia (30.1–11.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (5.7–0.7%), and nonpathogenic Entamoeba coli (48.9–16%), Blastocystis hominis (40.2–28.5%), Iodamoeba butschli (16.1–2.5%), Chilomastix mesnili (19.2–7.3%), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (7.4–5.5%) parasites, were more prevalent in the highlands than the lowlands. Single parasitic infections were more prevalent in the lowlands; polyparasitism of light or heavy intensity predominated in the highlands. A strongly increased risk of anemia and a low prevalence of wasting were determined in children in the highlands. A higher risk for stunting was associated with children of older age, and a low burden of intestinal helminths would prevent wasting in children of highlands. Infections with A. lumbricoides and G. lamblia pathogens in older children were not significant covariates for stunting. Environmental, nutritional, and parasitic factors may predispose to anemia in the highlands. A nutritional intervention and parasite control effort will substantially improve children´s health in the highlands.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5020490 |
| spellingShingle | Ceilan Apaza Washington Cuna Froilán Brañez Roberto Passera Celeste Rodriguez Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| title | Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia |
| title_full | Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia |
| title_fullStr | Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia |
| title_short | Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia |
| title_sort | frequency of gastrointestinal parasites anemia and nutritional status among children from different geographical regions of bolivia |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5020490 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ceilanapaza frequencyofgastrointestinalparasitesanemiaandnutritionalstatusamongchildrenfromdifferentgeographicalregionsofbolivia AT washingtoncuna frequencyofgastrointestinalparasitesanemiaandnutritionalstatusamongchildrenfromdifferentgeographicalregionsofbolivia AT froilanbranez frequencyofgastrointestinalparasitesanemiaandnutritionalstatusamongchildrenfromdifferentgeographicalregionsofbolivia AT robertopassera frequencyofgastrointestinalparasitesanemiaandnutritionalstatusamongchildrenfromdifferentgeographicalregionsofbolivia AT celesterodriguez frequencyofgastrointestinalparasitesanemiaandnutritionalstatusamongchildrenfromdifferentgeographicalregionsofbolivia |