Effect of Ascaris infection on the nutritional status and I.Q. of children |
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Authors: | A El-Nofely A Shaalan |
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Institution: | (1) Dept. of Bioanthropology, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt |
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Abstract: | It was estimated that about 1.3 billion persons all over the world were infected with Ascaris Lumbricoides (A.L.), Especially
children in tropical and subtropical countries.
AIM To investigate the effects of A.L. infection on the nutritional status and the intellectual level in a sample of Egyptian
primary school children from rural Giza province.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS A sample of 637 children (329 boys and 308 girls) aged 6–12 years, have been subjected to some anthropometric measurements
including body weight, body height, arm circumference, head circumference and triceps skinfold thickness. In addition, the
I.Q. was determined using “Draw-a-man” test. Blood hemoglobin concentration was also determined using a spectrophotometric
method. All the children were then subjected to stools and urine examinations, and peri-anal swab. Only 242 children were
included for further study, of whom 45 boys and 38 girls were found infected with A.L. solely, and 81 boys and 78 girls of
about the same age free of parasitic infections were taken as control.
RESULTS Children infected with A.L. has significantly lower body weight, height, and arm circumference but insignificantly lower skinfold
thickness and head circumference as comparedto the control group. Infected children had significantly lower hemoglobin concentration
and I.Q. than the controls.
CONCLUSIONS Selected anthropometric measurements, biochemical and intellectual tests from a useful complementary battery for reliable
and informative investigation of the effects of parasitic infection on child nutrition and health. A.L. was found to have
a significant effect on the physical and intellectual status of the rural Egyptian children of age 6–12 years. |
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Keywords: | Ascaris Nutrition I Q Children Egypt |
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