Effects of Ascaris infection of nutritional status in children.

The nutritional status of 30 children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides was compared with that of 30 uninfected controls matched for age, race, sex, and family income. Statistically significant evidence of an adverse effect of ascariasis on serum albumin levels and plasma vitamin C levels was found, but no child had inadequate levels of these nutrients. Suggestive evidence of an adverse effect of the infection on weight for height and on riboflavin nutriture was also found. There were no significant differences between infected and control children with respect to seven other laboratory measurements.