Relationship Between Intestinal Helminthiasis and Nutritional-haematologic Status on Rural Schoolchildren at Sucre State, Venezuela

  • Lourdes Figuera Laboratory of Parasitological Specialties, Department of Bioanalysis, School of Sciences, Sucre Nucleus, Oriente University. Venezuela. Research Institute in Biomedicine and Applied Sciences, Oriente University. Venezuela.
  • Heidi Kalale Laboratory of Parasitological Specialties, Department of Bioanalysis, School of Sciences, Sucre Nucleus, Oriente University. Venezuela.
  • Edgar Marchán Research Institute in Biomedicine and Applied Sciences, Oriente University. Venezuela.
Keywords: Intestinal helminthiasis, eosinophilia, nutrition, schoolchildren, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura

Abstract

A parasitological, nutritional and hematological evaluation was carried out on 103 children of both sexes between 4-12 years of age from a rural school at Santa Fe, Sucre state, Venezuela, from January-March 2003. Fecal samples were analyzed using a fresh test, Willis Malloy, and the quantitative Kato-Katz method. Nutritional status was determined by anthropometric indexes combinations. Haematological parameters were evaluated by classical methods and the degree of eosinophilia was expressed in absolute eosinophil counts. Exactly 93.2% of schoolchildren were found to have parasites with high poliparasitism (83.3%). Intestinal helminths prevalence was 82.5%, highlighted by 69.4% of Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides association, with a predominant light intensity of infestation. Around 91.2% (31/34) of individuals with malnutrition presented helminthiasis. Eosinophilia was found in 97.6% of schoolchildren infested by helminths (p< 0,001). And 83.3% (20/24) were infested by helminths in the group of children with anemia (23.3%). About 88.8% of children with intestinal helminthiasis belonged to the VTH level socioeconomic stratum. These findings suggest that the school population evaluated lives in a high helminth hyperendemic area, consistent with the socioeconomic stratum found. Additionally, it was
established that eosinophilia in these schoolchidren is a factor associated with intestinal helminthiasis.

Published
2006-06-15
How to Cite
1.
Figuera L, Kalale H, Marchán E. Relationship Between Intestinal Helminthiasis and Nutritional-haematologic Status on Rural Schoolchildren at Sucre State, Venezuela. Kasmera [Internet]. 2006Jun.15 [cited 2025Mar.4];34(1):14-. Available from: https://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/kasmera/article/view/4765
Issue
Vol. 34 No. 1 (2006)
Section
Original Articles

Copyright (c) 2006 Lourdes Figuera, Heidi Kalale, Edgar Marchán

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