Related Experiment Videos
Strongyloidiasis in children five years and below
H O Dada-Adegbola1, R A Bakare
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. dadaadegbola@yahoo.com
West African Journal of Medicine
|December 14, 2004
Summary
Strongyloidiasis, a parasitic infection, was found in 5.3% of children with diarrhea. All infected children were malnourished, suggesting a link between malnutrition and this infection in young children.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Strongyloidiasis is a significant human intestinal infection caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis.
- This soil-transmitted helminth infects the small intestine and can lead to chronic, asymptomatic infections in immunocompetent individuals.
- In immunocompromised individuals, Strongyloides stercoralis can cause hyperinfection syndrome, which is more commonly reported in adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in children aged 0-5 years presenting with diarrhea.
- To investigate the relationship between Strongyloides stercoralis infection and the nutritional status of these children.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted on 227 children (118 boys, 109 girls) with diarrhea, selected randomly after ethical approval.
- Data collected included a structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, clinical assessment, and stool examination using wet preparation and formol-ether concentration.
- Infected children received appropriate treatment.
Main Results:
- Strongyloides stercoralis was detected in 12 (5.3%) of the children with diarrhea.
- A statistically significant association was observed, with all infected children being malnourished (p=0.001).
- No cases of Strongyloides stercoralis infection were found in normally nourished children.
Conclusions:
- Strongyloidiasis may be a potential complication of malnutrition in children presenting with diarrhea.
- The findings highlight the importance of considering parasitic infections like Strongyloidiasis in the context of childhood malnutrition and diarrhea.