Title
Stunting in pre-school and school-age children in the peruvian highlands and its association with fasciola infection and demographic factors
Date Issued
01 June 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Webb C.M.
Lopezid M.
Baca-Turpo B.
Arque E.
University of Texas Medical Branch
Publisher(s)
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Fascioliasis is a zoonotic trematode infection that is endemic in the highlands of Peru. Chronic fascioliasis can be asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed for years. Chronic malnutrition in children, as manifested by stunting, leads to delayed cognitive development and lost productivity. We hypothesized that fascioliasis is among the factors associated with stunting in children from endemic areas. We conducted a cross-sectional study among children attending pre-school and school in 26 communities in the Anta province in the Cusco region of Peru. We conducted interviews to collect information on demographic, socioeconomic, and medical history. Blood was collected and tested for complete cell count and FAS2 ELISA for Fasciola antibodies. Three stool samples per participant were tested for parasites by Kato-Katz and Lumbreras rapid sedimentation methods. Chronic fascioliasis was determined by the presence of ova in stool. Children’s height, weight, and age were recorded and used to calculate height for age Z scores (HAZ). Three thousand children participated in the study. Nine percent (264) of children had at least one positive test for Fasciola infection, 6% (164) had chronic fascioliasis, and 3% (102) had only positive antibody tests. The median HAZ was-1.41 (IQR:-2.03 to-0.81) and was similar in males and females. Twenty six percent (776) of children had stunting with HAZ <-2. Children with chronic fascioliasis had a lower median HAZ than children without Fasciola (-1.54 vs.-1.4, p = 0.014). History of treatment for malnutrition, history of treatment for anemia, having other helminths in stool, lower socioeconomic score, living at a higher elevation, and fewer years of schooling of both parents were associated with a lower HAZ score. In a multiple regression analysis, older age and a lower socioeconomic score were associated with a lower HAZ score. While fascioliasis and other helminths were associated with lower HAZ, they were not independent of the socioeconomic score.
Volume
15
Issue
6
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Pediatría
Enfermedades infecciosas
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85109785728
PubMed ID
Source
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
ISSN of the container
19352727
Sponsor(s)
MMC was supported by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases [https://www.niaid.nih.gov] at the National Institutes of Health [grant number 1R01AI104820– 01]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Acknowledgments Disclaimer: The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus