Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

Intestinal parasites and the growth status of internally displaced children in Sri Lanka

T G A N Chandrasena1, H C Hapuarachchi, M Y D Dayanath

  • 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. nilmini_chandrasena@lycos.com

Tropical Doctor
|August 25, 2007
PubMed

Insights

War-displaced Sri Lankan children show high rates of growth problems and parasitic infections. Interventions including food, clean water, sanitation, and deworming medication are recommended to improve child health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Tropical Medicine

Background:

  • Children displaced by war in Sri Lanka face significant health challenges.
  • Assessing growth status and parasitic infections is crucial for this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of growth retardation and intestinal parasitic infections in war-displaced children in Sri Lanka.
  • To identify key health issues impacting this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Assessment of growth parameters (wasting, stunting, underweight).
  • Screening for intestinal parasitic infections.

Main Results:

  • High prevalence of growth retardation: 41% wasting, 28% stunting, 69.9% underweight.
  • Significant prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections at 40.2%.
  • Correlation between displacement and poor health outcomes observed.

Conclusions:

  • War-displaced children in Sri Lanka exhibit severe growth deficits and high parasitic infection rates.
  • Urgent need for integrated interventions addressing nutrition, water, sanitation, and parasitic control.
  • Recommendations include provision of adequate food, purified water, sanitation facilities, and broad-spectrum anthelmintics.

More Related Videos

Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples04:57

Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples

Published on: April 25, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Giardiasis01:12

Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a globally prevalent intestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. lamblia or G. intestinalis). This flagellated protozoan is the most frequently identified intestinal parasite in the United States and worldwide. Transmission primarily occurs via the fecal-oral route, with infection arising from ingestion of water or food contaminated with cysts. Individuals in low-resource settings, international travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, daycare...
Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism01:22

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...