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Chronic malnutrition and Trypanosoma cruzi infection in children
1Federal University of Goias, Department of Community Health, Gioânia-Go, Brazil.
Insights
Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is linked to chronic malnutrition in Brazilian children. Infected children face higher risks of stunting and being underweight, highlighting a critical public health concern.
Area of Science:
- * Infectious Diseases
- * Pediatric Nutrition
- * Public Health Epidemiology
Background:
- * Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is endemic in regions with high rates of child malnutrition.
- * A potential association between T. cruzi infection and chronic malnutrition in children warrants investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To examine the association between T. cruzi infection and chronic malnutrition in schoolchildren.
- * To assess the risk of stunting and underweight among T. cruzi-seropositive children.
Main Methods:
- * Cross-sectional survey of 1900 schoolchildren aged 7-12 years in central Brazil.
- * Serological tests (IIF, ELISA, IHA) to detect T. cruzi antibodies.
- * Anthropometric measurements (NCHS) of 153 seropositive children compared with matched seronegative controls, adjusting for socio-economic status (SES).
Main Results:
- * T. cruzi-seropositive children had a 2.4-fold increased risk of stunting (height-for-age z-score < -2.0).
- * Being underweight (weight-for-age z-score < -2.0) was significantly associated with T. cruzi seropositivity (OR = 2.8).
- * No significant interaction was found between nutritional status and SES.
Conclusions:
- * T. cruzi infection is independently associated with chronic malnutrition (stunting and underweight) in Brazilian schoolchildren.
- * Further research into the physiopathological mechanisms linking T. cruzi infection, nutrition, and metabolism is recommended.
Abstract:
The distribution of T. cruzi infection overlaps regions with high prevalence of child malnutrition. We examined the possible association between T. cruzi infection and chronic malnutrition. In a cross-sectional survey conducted among 1900 7-12 year-old schoolchildren in 60 village schools in central Brazil, anthropometric measurements (NCHS) taken from 153 children with at least two positive serological tests for antibodies against T. cruzi (IIF, ELISA, IHA) were compared to two age and sex seronegative matched classmates. Information on children's medical history and socio-economic status (SES) were collected from parents of the participants. Seropositive children had a 2.4-fold risk (95% CI 1.4-4.0) of being stunted (z-score < 2.0 of height-for-age) when compared to uninfected children even after adjusting for confounding variables. Being underweight (z-score < -2.0 of weight-for-age) was also statistically associated with seropositivity to T. cruzi (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.6). No statistical evidence of multiplicative interaction between nutritional status and SES was detected. Further studies on nutrition and metabolism are required to look into a possible physiopathological mechanism for this association.