Intestinal parasite infestation and the anthropometric status of primary school children in the Delft area, Western Cape

Abstract

Infestation by intestinal helminths is a disease that is chronic, insidious and usually silent. Acute signs and symptoms are not characteristic, nor is the disease manifested as sudden outbreaks. Instead, it is typically associated with poverty, being a disease of the poor and socioeconomically deprived and therefore it is often ignored and neglected. Infestation by intestinal helminthes and malnutrition usually occur together in the same areas, leading to a double burden in the already deprived. Reports in the literature on the effects of treating children for intestinal parasites vary widely. Some studies found no beneficial effects, while others report significant improvements in nutritional status, growth anemia, cognitive function school attendance and behavior. Previous studies in the Western Cape have shown infestation between 7tr/o and Wo among school children. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and the relationship between malnutrition the prevalence of worm infestation and the intensity of infestation in an economically deprived area in the Western Cape, in primary school children. A cross-sectional study of 235 childrern randomly selected from four schools was undertaken. Faecal specimens were examined by microscopy using standardized methods, and anthropometrical measurements were taken. In this study the mean prevalence for parasite infestation was 47.7%. No relationship was detected between the anthropometrical status and infestation by intestinal parasites. The prevalence for stunting in school 3 (the informal settlement) was23o/o,75ohwere infected with parasites and 25ohinfeded with protozoa \the highest for all the schools. The possibility of a prospective interaction was not determined.