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Gender differences in growth of school-aged children with schistosomiasis and geohelminth infection

Abstract:

Light or moderate intensity infection with Schistosoma mansoni may contribute to growth deficits. We report on the effects of treatment for S.mansoni on growth development in Brazilian schoolchildren. Anthropometric measurements were taken from 539 S. mansoni-infected children their age- sex- matched egg-negative controls between the ages of 7 and 15 years. The children as a whole exhibited chronic malnutrition with growth retardation in height evident in 21% of the population. Infected children however were significantly smaller in height weight mid upper arm circumference (UAC) tricep skinfold (TSF) subscapular skinfold (SSF) measurements than control children (P < 0.05). These differences were due primarily to a greater disparity between infected egg-Negative girls in height (P < 0.01), weight (P = 0.01), UAC (P = 0.02), and TSF (P < 0.01). Nevertheless, girls demonstrated a better level of development nutrition compared with boys. While infected boys were shorter weighed less than controls, these differences were not significant. Growth development in girls was negatively correlated with intensity of infection. Coinfection with S. mansoni and Trichuris appeared to act synergistically in the development of malnutrition.