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Cited by 686Parasites and Host InteractionsChild Nutrition and Water AccessHelminth infection and control

Malnutrition and parasitic helminth infections

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STEPHENSON, L.S., LATHAM, M.C., OTTESEN, E.A.·2000·Parasitology
DOI 10.1017/s0031182000006491
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Abstract

The Global Burden of Disease caused by the 3 major intestinal nematodes is an estimated 22.1 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost for hookworm, 10.5 million for Ascaris lumbricoides, 6.4 million for Trichuris trichiura, and 39.0 million for the three infections combined (as compared with malaria at 35.7 million) (World Bank, 1993; Chan et al. 1994); these figures illustrate why some scarce health care resources must be used for their control. Strongyloides stercoralis is the fourth most important intestinal worm infection; its nutritional implications are discussed, and the fact that its geographic distribution needs further study is emphasized. Mechanisms underlying the malnutrition induced by intestinal helminths are described. Anorexia, which can decrease intake of all nutrients in tropical populations on marginal diets, is likely to be the most important in terms of magnitude and the probable major mechanism by which intestinal nematodes inhibit growth and development. We present a revised and expanded conceptual framework for how parasites cause/aggravate malnutrition and retard development in endemic areas. Specific negative effects that a wide variety of parasites may have on gastrointestinal physiology are presented. The synergism between Trichuris and Campylobacter, intestinal inflammation and growth failure, and new studies showing that hookworm inhibits growth and promotes anaemia in preschool (as well as school-age) children are presented. We conclude by presenting rationales and evidence to justify ensuring the widest possible coverage for preschool-age children and girls and women of childbearing age in intestinal parasite control programmes, in order to prevent morbidity and mortality in general and specifically to help decrease the vicious intergenerational cycle of growth failure (of low-birth-weight/intrauterine growth retardation and stunting) that entraps infants, children and girls and women of reproductive age in developing areas.

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  • Exposure to roundworm antigens activates the local immune system, specifically Th2 infiltrations and cytokine induction, altering the gut-microbiota balance.

    “Exposure to roundworm antigens also activated the local immune system, specifically Th2 infiltrations and cytokine induction, altering the gut-microbiota balance.”

    From Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Nutritional Status in Children under Five Years Old: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [68]

    The ‘Intestinal co-infections’ section discusses a hypothesized whipworm-induced suppression of mucosal immunity to resident bacteria in pigs, not activation by roundworm antigens. Searches for Th2 infiltration, cytokine induction, and Ascaris-related changes to the gut microbiota found no passage in our copy addressing those mechanisms. No page number was available for the indexed passage. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. , . ., , . ., , . .  , . . (1984). Larvicidal activity of albendazole against Necator americanus larvae in human volunteers. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 33, 387-394.
  2.  , . (1999). Anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia : extent of the public health problem. INACG Symposium, 12 Mar 1999, Durban, South Africa. Dept of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization.
  3. , ., , . ., , . ., , . .  , . . (1998). Improvements of growth, appetite, and physical activity in helminth- infected schoolboys six months after a single dose of albendazole. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 7, 170-176.
  4. , . . (1999). Evaluation of the integrated management of childhood illness guidelines for treatment of intestinal helminth infections in sick children, 2-4 years, western Kenya. Master's of Public Health Thesis, Rollins School of Public Health. Emory University, 1999.
  5. , . ., , . . ., , . ., , .  , . . (1999). Early childhood diarrhea & helminthiases associated with long-term stunting. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 61, 385.
  6. , . . .  , . . eds (1996). Global Burden of Parasitic Worm Infections. In Global Burden of Disease and Injury Series, vol II. Global Health Statistics. Cambridge, USA, Harvard University Press.
  7. , . .  , . . (1984). Impact of S intestinal parasites on digestive function in humans. Federation Proceedings 43, 246-250.
  8. , . (1999). Parasitic infections and anaemia during pregnancy in Sierra Leone. Ph.D. Dissertation : University of Glasgow.
  9. Jamison, D. T., Moseley, W. H., Measham, A. R. & Bobadilla, J. L.), pp. 131-160. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

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Authors
STEPHENSON, L. S., LATHAM, M. C., & OTTESEN, E. A.
Affiliations
  • Cornell University (US)
  • World Health Organization (CH)
Venue
Parasitology
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2000-10
Volume
121
Issue
S1
Pages
S23-S38
ISSN
  • 0031-1820 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8161
DOI
10.1017/s0031182000006491
OpenAlex
W2157065916
Cited by
686
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 30
FWCI
1.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 257 d)
Locations
  • Parasitology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Parasites and Host Interactions
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
Keywords
intestinal helminths, malnutrition, hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, anorexia, growth failure, anaemia in children, intestinal inflammation, Campylobacter, stunting, disability-adjusted life years, women of reproductive age, preschool children
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Helminthiasis, Humans, Infant, Male, Nutrition Disorders, Pregnancy

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