Growth and development four years after treatment for the Trichuris dysentery syndrome

A follow-up study is reported of 18 children 4 y after treatment for the Trichuris dysentery syndrome (TDS) and matched control children. The TDS children were initially severely stunted and had extremely low developmental levels. They showed catch-up in height of 1.9 z-scores even though they remained in very poor environments. Their intelligence quotients, school achievement and cognitive function remained significantly lower than those of the controls. Controlling for their earlier developmental levels, the TDS children showed a small improvement in mental development relative to the controls.