S Awasthi1, V K Pande. 1. Department of Pediatrics, King George's Medical College, Lucknow.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the point prevalence of intestinal parasites and their association with nutritional parameters. SETTING: Anganwadi centers under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Lucknow, North India. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: By random draw, 32 out of 153 Anganwadi centers were selected. All eligible subjects registered with the Anganwadi worker were enrolled. These were 1061 children (48.3% girls and 51.7% boys) between the ages of 1.5 to 3.5 years. RESULTS: Of these, 67.6% were underweight (weight for age < -2 SD), 62.8% were stunted (height for age < -2 SD) and 26.5% were wasted (weight for height < -2 SD). Parasites were detected in 17.5% (95% CI 15.3%-19.9%) children by a single direct fecal smear examination. Of these, Ascaris lumbricoides was found in 124 (68.1%) and Giardia lamblia in 60 (32.9%). There was no association between weight or height and parasite positivity. The mean hemoglobin levels for children who were smear positive versus smear negative for ascaris or giardia were 9.1 g/dl and 9.6 g/dl, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In the urban slums the point prevalence of intestinal parasites is 17.5% in the preschool children. Malnutrition and low hemoglobin levels are also widely prevalent. Urgent remedial steps are needed on community basis to improve their nutritional status and control parasitic infestation.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the point prevalence of intestinal parasites and their association with nutritional parameters. SETTING: Anganwadi centers under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Lucknow, North India. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: By random draw, 32 out of 153 Anganwadi centers were selected. All eligible subjects registered with the Anganwadi worker were enrolled. These were 1061 children (48.3% girls and 51.7% boys) between the ages of 1.5 to 3.5 years. RESULTS: Of these, 67.6% were underweight (weight for age < -2 SD), 62.8% were stunted (height for age < -2 SD) and 26.5% were wasted (weight for height < -2 SD). Parasites were detected in 17.5% (95% CI 15.3%-19.9%) children by a single direct fecal smear examination. Of these, Ascaris lumbricoides was found in 124 (68.1%) and Giardia lamblia in 60 (32.9%). There was no association between weight or height and parasite positivity. The mean hemoglobin levels for children who were smear positive versus smear negative for ascaris or giardia were 9.1 g/dl and 9.6 g/dl, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In the urban slums the point prevalence of intestinal parasites is 17.5% in the preschool children. Malnutrition and low hemoglobin levels are also widely prevalent. Urgent remedial steps are needed on community basis to improve their nutritional status and control parasitic infestation.
Authors: Beryl P Gladstone; Ashima R Das; Andrea M Rehman; Shabbar Jaffar; Mary K Estes; Jayaprakash Muliyil; Gagandeep Kang; Anuradha Bose Journal: J Trop Pediatr Date: 2009-12-22 Impact factor: 1.165
Authors: Sitara S R Ajjampur; Premi Sankaran; Arun Kannan; Kirthi Sathyakumar; Rajiv Sarkar; Beryl P Gladstone; Gagandeep Kang Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2009-01 Impact factor: 2.345