Underweight as a risk factor for multiparasitism and its clinical significance among Egyptian children

Abstract EN

Although multiparasitism is a common phenomenon, but its impact on young children nutritional and developmental status is underestimated.

This cross-sectional study aimed to statistically correlate single/multiple parasitic infections detected with underweight, demographic and clinical data.

Stool samples were collected from 222 Egyptian children from 1 to 5 years old who were attending the Diagnostic and Research Unit of Parasitic Diseases.

Stool samples were screened for parasitic species using light microscopy of direct, trichrome and modified kinyoun stained smears.

Nutritional status was evaluated using weight-for-age plotting against standard reference growth charts.

Questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data of children under study.

The overall prevalence of parasitosis was 51.8%.

Among infected children, polyparasitism was significantly higher among underweight (66.7%; P<0.001), and in males compared to females (31.6% vs.

16.7%; P =0.011).

Univariate analysis showed significant associations between underweight and Giardia lamblia co-infection with other species (P < 0.001).

Multiparasitism should be of more concern especially to this age group, as it can exacerbate children’s morbidity.

However, several methodological challenges remain when it comes to detecting parasite interactions in resource- constrained settings