Entamoeba histolytica-associated diarrheal illness is negatively associated with the growth of preschool children: evidence from a prospective study.
The enteric protozoa, Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Entamoeba histolytica, cause diarrhea in children. We investigated the association of enteric protozoan-associated diarrheal illness with the nutritional status and growth of preschool children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The subjects were 221 children aged 2-5 years who were followed prospectively for diarrheal illness for 3 years. The weight and height of the children were measured at entry and at 4-month intervals. Cryptosporidium and E. histolytica were diagnosed with commercially available stool antigen detection kits. Giardia was diagnosed by conventional microscopy. Cryptosporidium- and Giardia-associated diarrheal illness was not associated with the growth of the children. Children with E. histolytica-associated diarrheal illness had lower weight for age Z-score changes (-0.103+/-0.120 vs. 0.176+/-0.052, P=0.038). Similarly, the change in height for age Z-score was lower in children with E. histolytica-associated diarrheal illness (-0.348+/-0.186 vs. 0.142+/-0.08, P=0.018). Children with E. histolytica-associated diarrheal illness were 2.93 times (95% CI 1.01-8.52, P=0.047) more likely to be malnourished and 4.69 times (95% CI 1.55-14.18, P=0.006) more prone to be stunted. Entamoeba histolytica-associated diarrheal illness was negatively associated with the growth of preschool children.
Mondal
Dinesh
D
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, G.P.O. Box 128, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
Petri
William A
WA
Sack
R Bradley
RB
Kirkpatrick
Beth D
BD
Haque
Rashidul
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000469:parasitology; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D037102:Lectins