HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by ZHOU, H. Articles by SLEIGH, A. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by ZHOU, H. Articles by SLEIGH, A. C. Related Collections Schistosomiasis Ascaris Helminth Nutrition Trichuris

IMPACT OF PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND DIETARY INTAKE ON CHILD GROWTH IN THE SCHISTOSOMIASIS-ENDEMIC DONGTING LAKE REGION, CHINA

The simultaneous impacts of parasitic infections and dietary intake on growth patterns were investigated for 427 children aged 10–13 years in the schistosomiasis-endemic Dongting Lake region of China. Height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference, and skinfold thicknesses (triceps, biceps, and subscapular) were measured, and eggs of Schistosoma japonicum, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Fasciolopsis buski in the collected stool samples of each subject were detected by Kato-Katz thick smear technique. Long-term dietary intake of each subject was assessed with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The results demonstrate that the study children were retarded in growth compared with the standards of Chinese rural children; among them, the girls were more frequently infected for S. japonicum and had lower intakes of protein and energy. Reduced height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference were noted in children infected with S. japonicum, most severely in the girls with the least energy and protein intakes. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that growth retardation was significantly and substantially associated with S. japonicum infection and lack of protein-energy intakes. For child health programs, regular schistosomiasis screening and treatment in schoolchildren needs to be complemented by health and nutrition education for both children and parents. Also, special attention should be paid to educating parents about the needs of girls.

Received May 21, 2004. Accepted for publication August 13, 2004.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank Dr. Y. S. Li and all technical staff in the Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases for support to this study including parasitological analysis and also thank local community officials, antischistosomiasis officials, and schoolteachers for cooperation in fieldwork and the subject schoolchildren and their parents for participation in this study.

Authors’ addresses: Huan Zhou, Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, Telephone: 81-3-5841-3608, Fax: 81-3-5841-3395, E-mail: zhou{at}humeco.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Ryutaro Ohtsuka, Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, Telephone: 81-3-5841-3531, Fax: 81-3-5841-3395, E-mail: rohtsuka{at}humeco.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Yongkang He, Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Yueyang city, Hunan Province, 414000, People’s Republic of China, Telephone: 86-730-8621440, Fax: 86-730-8623018, E-mail: Yongkangh{at}hotmail.com. Liping Yuan, Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Yueyang city, Hunan Province, 414000, People’s Republic of China, Telephone: 86-730-8621440, Fax: 86-730-8623018, E-mail: lipingy99{at}yahoo.com. Taro Yamauchi, Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, Telephone: 81-3-5841-3531, Fax: 81-3-5841-3395, E-mail: taro{at}humeco.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Adrian C. Sleigh, National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia 0200, Telephone: 61-2-6125-2145, Fax: 61-2-6125-6756, E-mail: Adrian.Sleigh{at}anu.edu.au.

Reprint requests: Huan Zhou, Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, Telephone: 81-3-5841-3608, Fax: 81-3-5841-3395. E-mail: zhou{at}humeco.m.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. H. King and M. Dangerfield-Cha The unacknowledged impact of chronic schistosomiasis Chronic Illness, March 1, 2008; 4(1): 65 - 79. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. M. Coutinho, L. P. Acosta, S. T. McGarvey, B. Jarilla, M. Jiz, A. Pablo, L. Su, D. L. Manalo, R. M. Olveda, J. D. Kurtis, et al. Nutritional Status Improves after Treatment of Schistosoma japonicum-Infected Children and Adolescents J. Nutr., January 1, 2006; 136(1): 183 - 188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]