Malnutrition and Intestinal Parasites: Mexico Perspectives (original) (raw)
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2013
BACKGROUND: For many years Chiapas, Mexico's poorest state, has had the highest rate of child mortality due to intestinal infections of unknown etiology in the country. To begin identifying the infectious agents, our work determined the prevalence of intestinal parasites as well as malnutrition in children from Chiapas's three most impoverished municipalities: Pantepec, Chanal, and Larrainzar.METHODOLOGY: In this cross-sectional study, conducted between January and November 2009, we assessed the prevalence of intestinal parasites by means of coproparasitological analysis in children <5 years of age (N=250) from three of the marginalized municipalities: Pantepec, Chanal and Larrainzar. The prevalence of malnutrition was then assessed using the Mexican official norm NOM-031-SSA2-1999 and WHO criteria. We evaluated the association between age (breast-fed and pre-school children) with parasites and nutritional status.RESULTS: Our analysis revealed the highest prevalence of intestinal parasites in children from Pantepec (62.8%), followed by Chanal (47.3%), and then Larrainzar (11.9 %). The nematode Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent enteroparasite (33.6%). Anthropometric analysis revealed that >40% of children represented varying degrees of malnutrition and a marked constitutional delay in growth. A very high prevalence of stunting was also recorded in children from Chanal and Larrainzar (70% and 55%, respectively). An association between infection with intestinal parasites and malnutrition was observed in Pantepec. Preschool-age children were more likely to be infected with intestinal parasites.CONCLUSION: Our results indicate the urgent need for interventions in order to 1) improve the nutritional status of children and 2) reduce infection rates of enteric parasites.
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2018
Introduction: Children under five years of age from developing countries are in risk of not achieving an adequate human development due to stunting and extreme poverty. They were also affected by intestinal helminths. Inhabitants of the state of Chiapas, the poorest population in Mexico, register the highest prevalence of child malnutrition as well as intestinal parasitic infections. With the purpose of fight against poverty and hunger, the Mexican government launched a social program called “Prospera”. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of stunting and intestinal parasites in school children beneficiaries of that social program, from two marginalized municipalities of Chiapas, Mexico. Methodology: A total of 106 school-age children were recruited for nutritional assessment as well parasitic load measures. Results: Most children exhibited stunting (88.7%). In these children the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 32.1%, being A. lumbricoides the species with the highest prevalence (25.5%) with moderate parasitic load (15.1%). Positive associations were observed between the presence of intestinal parasites and the municipality where children lived, the type of footwear, or the educational level of the mother. Conclusions: Extreme poverty conditions in these localities of Mexico are far from reaching the sustainable development goals.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2004
Undernutrition and intestinal parasitic infections affect childhood development and morbidity in many developing countries. Undernutrition may increase susceptibility to parasitic infections which in turn impair the nutritional status of the host. The relationship between intestinal parasitic infections and nutritional status in 400 Mexican schoolchildren was investigated. More than half of the children in the study showed intestinal parasites and polyparasitism. The prevalence of helminth infections was significantly higher in Oaxaca than in Sinaloa (P < 0.05). Z scores for weight-for-age (WA) and height-for-age (HA) were much lower in children of Oaxaca than in Sinaloa (P < 0.001). A significantly higher Z score for weight-for-height (WH), WA, and HA were found in non-infected versus infected children (P < 0.05). Higher prevalences of intestinal infections were found in children with lower HA and WA than in normally nourished children (P < 0.05). Higher intensities of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were found in the schoolchildren of Sinaloa than in Oaxaca (P < 0.01). Negative and significant associations were found between Hymenolepis nana and T. trichiura infection (eggs per gram) and nutritional status. Intestinal parasitic infections may be regarded as main risk factors associated with poor nutritional status in Mexican schoolchildren. (M.E. Valencia), S.Phillips@bio.gla.ac.uk (S. Phillips), P.Hagan@bio.gla.ac.uk (P. Hagan), spdiazc@uas.uasnet.mx (S.P. Diaz-Camacho). 1 Araceli Triana-Tejas: her soul is still with us. This work is in her memory. Tel.: +01 951 51 617 22; fax: +01 951 51 469 21.
Intestinal parasites in children, in highly deprived areas in the border region of Chiapas, Mexico
Salud Publica De Mexico, 2003
Objective. To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among children in highly deprived areas, and its possible association with demographic and socioeconomic indicators. Material and Methods. From March to September 1998 in a convenience sample of 32 communities of the border region of Chiapas, Mexico, selected at random based on the level of poverty and distance from the community to the nearest health care unit (<1 hour; 1 hour or more), one of every four households with children under 15 years of age was randomly selected to provide three stool samples from their children (n 1478). Bivariate and multivariate (generalized linear models for correlated binary data) analysis were performed. Results. The global prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 67% (95% confidence interval [CI] 64-70%). Sixty percent had multiple parasites. The prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica/E dispar was 51.2%, that of Giardia lamblia 18.3%, and that of Ascaris lumbricoides 14.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that age and speaking an indigenous language were significantly associated with the presence of E histolytica/ E dispar and Giardia lamblia.
2009
Inhabitants of a rural community in Mexico were analyzed for intestinal parasites, 34% of the 115 people studied were positive by Faust’s technique; stream water was also analyzed for parasites, 4/7 sites were positive and these were located near the natural source of drinking water. A questionnaire with social, health and demographic variables was applied to heads of households in search of associations with intestinal parasites. Statistical significant data were having had parasites in the past, being less than 13 years of age and eating unwashed food. A dendogram of Euclidian distances showed two clades; one associated to protection and the other one to risk. Unfortunately, the prevalence of protozoa found in the present study has not changed from previous reports obtained in other rural communities of central Mexico. Our results suggest that health authorities should incorporate health education, anti-protozoa drugs and clean natural water sources as part of the control programs...
Boletín Médico del Hospital Infantil de México, 2019
Background: The state of Chiapas has held the first place of extreme poverty in Mexico. The majority of Chiapas' municipalities are inhabited by marginalized, indigenous populations, who usually present diarrhea of unknown etiology. We evaluated the nutritional status, intestinal parasites, and common bacterial pathogens, including DEC (diarrheagenic Escherichia coli) strains, in 178 children under five years of age with a high (rural) and a moderate (urban) degree of marginalization. Methods: Z-scores for anthropometric indexes from the children were obtained, whereas intestinal parasites were investigated by using a direct coproparasitoscopic analysis and a concentration method. DEC strains were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The stunting prevalence in children from the rural and urban regions was 79.8 and 7.5%, respectively. Only children from rural municipalities were parasitized (72.6%), being Ascaris lumbricoides and Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar the most prevalent parasites (57.1 and 38.1%, respectively). More than half of the children presented moderated ascariasis. Besides Giardia intestinalis, these parasites were associated with stunting. The prevalence of DEC strains was similar in both regions. Conclusions: Only children from the Chiapas Highlands (rural zone) exhibited high prevalences of stunting and intestinal parasites. A reevaluation of social development programs should be in place to address stunting and intestinal parasitoses, mainly in rural regions of Chiapas, to avoid adverse functional consequences on these children.
Prevalence of intestinal helminths, anemia, and malnutrition in Paucartambo, Peru
Revista panamericana de salud pública = Pan American journal of public health, 2015
To evaluate the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections, anemia, and malnutrition among children in the Paucartambo province of Cusco region, Peru, in light of demographic, socio-economic, and epidemiologic contextual factors. Children from three to twelve years old from six communities in Huancarani district in the highlands of Peru were evaluated for helminth infections, anemia, and nutritional status. Data collected included demographic variables, socioeconomic status, exposures, complete blood counts, and direct and sedimentation stool tests. Of 240 children analyzed, 113 (47%) were infected with one or more parasites. Giardia (27.5%) and Fasciola (9.6%) were the most commonly identified organisms. Eosinophilia was encountered in 21% of the children. Anemia (48.8%) was associated with age (3-4 vs 5-12 years old; odds ratio (OR): 5.86; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.81-12.21). Underweight (10%) was associated with male sex (OR: 5.97; CI: 1.12-31.72), higher eosinophil...