[Frequency of intestinal helminthiasis and its association with iron deficiency and malnutrition in children from western Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To determine intestinal helminthiasis frequency and its association with malnutrition and iron deficiency.


METHODS
An analytical cross-over study was carried out on children in the municipality of Comala, Colima, Mexico. Coproparasitoscopic exams in series of three using the Kato-Katz technique were performed in all children. To evaluate the degree ofmalnutrition, the following anthropometric indices were determined: means and z-scores for weight/height, height/age, weight/age. Severe, moderate and minimal iron deficiency was considered when ferritin was: < or = 12 ng/ml, 12 to 18 ng/mL and 19 to 24 ng/mL, respectively.


RESULTS
243 children were studied with an average age of 65.3+/-8.7 months. 60.9% (n = 148) of the children showed a decrease in ferritin levels and 2.5% (n = 6) had anemia. 16% (n = 39) had trichuriasis, 6.9% (n = 17) ascariasis and 5.3% (n = 13) had both parasites. Trichiura infection was associated with declining health (OR 11.0, CI 3.9-30.8; p<0.001) and with iron deficiency, with cut-off points of <24 ng (OR 2.0, CI 1.0-3.9, p = 0.02) and <18 ng/ dL (OR 2.2, CI 1.2-4.2, p= 0.009). Ascaris infection was not associated with malnutrition or iron deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
Trichiura infection was associated with declining health and slight and moderate degrees of iron deficiency.
Gutiérrez-Rodríguez
Celina
C
Centro Estatal de Transfusión Sanguínea, Secretaría de Salud, Hospital General de Zona y Medicina Familiar No. 1, Dr. Leonel Ramírez Garcia, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Colima, Colima, México.
Trujillo-Hernández
Benjamín
B
Martínez-Contreras
Alicia
A
Pineda-Lucatero
Alicia
A
Millán-Guerrero
Rebeca O
RO
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000453:epidemiology
D005293:Ferritins