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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Nutritional status, intestinal parasite infection and allergy among school children in Northwest Ethiopia
BMC Pediatrics, Volume 13, No. 1, Article 7, Year 2013
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Description
Background: Parasitic infections have been shown to have deleterious effects on host nutritional status. In addition, although helmintic infection can modulate the host inflammatory response directed against the parasite, a causal association between helminths and allergy remains uncertain. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status, parasite infection and prevalence of allergy among school children.Methods: A cross sectional study was performed involving school children in two elementary schools in Gondar, Ethiopia. Nutritional status of these children was determined using anthropometric parameters (weight-for-age, height-for-age and BMI-for-age). Epi-Info software was used to calculate z-scores. Stool samples were examined using standard parasitological procedures. The serum IgE levels were quantified by total IgE ELISA kit following the manufacturer's instruction.Result: A total of 405 children (with mean age of 12.09.1 ± 2.54 years) completed a self-administered allergy questionnaire and provided stool samples for analysis. Overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and thinness/wasting was 15.1%, 25.2%, 8.9%, respectively. Of the total, 22.7% were found to be positive for intestinal parasites. The most prevalent intestinal parasite detected was Ascaris lumbricoides (31/405, 7.6%). There was no statistically significant association between prevalence of malnutrition and the prevalence of parasitic infections. Median total serum IgE level was 344 IU/ml (IQR 117-2076, n = 80) and 610 IU/ml (143-1833, n = 20), respectively, in children without and with intestinal parasite infection (Z = -0.198, P > 0.8). The prevalence of self reported allergy among the subset was 8%. IgE concentration was not associated either with the presence of parasitic infection or history of allergy.Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition, intestinal parasitism and allergy was not negligible in this population. In addition, there was no significant association between the prevalence of allergy and their nutritional status, and parasite infection. Further research prospective observational and intervention studies are required to address the question of causality between nutritional factors, parasites, and allergy. © 2013 Amare et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Tedla, Bemnet Amare
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Ali, Jemal Mahdi
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Moges, Beyene
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Yismaw, Gizachew
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Belyhun, Yeshambel
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Gebretsadik, Simon
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Woldeyohannes, Desalegn
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Tafess, K.
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Abate, Ebba
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Endris, Mengistu
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Zegeye, Desalegn Tegabu
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Mulu, A.
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Ota, Fusao
Japan, Takamatsu
Seto Medical Check Clinic
Fantahun, Bereket
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Kassu, Afework
Ethiopia, Gondar
University of Gondar
Statistics
Citations: 84
Authors: 15
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2431-13-7
e-ISSN:
14712431
Research Areas
Food Security
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Ethiopia