Anthropometric Indices of Giardia-Infected Under-Five Children Presenting with Moderate-to-Severe Diarrhea and Their Healthy Community Controls: Data from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study

• Main Authors: Shamsun Nahar Shaima (Author), Sumon Kumar Das (Author), Shahnawaz Ahmed (Author), Yasmin Jahan (Author), Soroar Hossain Khan (Author), Gazi Md. Salahuddin Mamun (Author), Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayeem Bin Shahid (Author), Irin Parvin (Author), Tahmeed Ahmed (Author), A. S. G. Faruque (Author), Mohammod Jobayer Chisti (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Among all intestinal parasitosis, giardiasis has been reported to be associated with delayed growth in malnourished children under 5 living in low- and middle-income countries. Relevant data on the nutritional status of children aged 0-59 months presenting with moderate-to-severe diarrhea (MSD) and giardia infection were collected from sentinel health facilities of the Global Enteric Multicenter Study's (GEMS) seven field settings, placed in diverse countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia between, December 2007 and February 2011. Then, this study analyzed a robust dataset of study participants (<i>n</i> = 22,569). Children having giardiasis with MSD constituted as cases (<i>n</i> = 1786), and those without MSD constituted as controls (<i>n</i> = 3470). Among the seven field sites, symptomatic giardiasis was 15% and 22% in Asian and African sites, respectively, whereas asymptomatic giardia infection (healthy without MSD) in Asian and African sites was 21.7% and 30.7%, respectively. Wasting and underweight were more frequently associated and stunting less often associated with symptomatic giardiasis (for all, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Symptomatic giardiasis had a significant association with worsening of nutritional status in under-five children. Improved socio-economic profile along with proper sanitation and hygienic practices are imperative to enhance child nutritional status, particularly in resource limited settings.

Item Description

10.3390/children8121186
2227-9067