Relationship of Intestinal Parasites, H. Pylori Infection with Anemia or Iron Status Among School age Children in Rural Bangladesh

Ahmed S Rahman, Shafiqul A Sarker, Tahmeed Ahmed, Rafiqul Islam, Mohammad A Wahed, David A Sack

Abstract


AIM: To investigate an association of intestinal parasites or Helicobacter pylori infection with hemoglobin, anemia or iron status among rural school aged children in Bangladesh. METHODS: Data and specimens from a controlled trial among children aged 6-15 years old to assess the nutritional impact of fortified flour were used to carry out this additional analysis on factors which effect anemia. Stool samples from 310 children were collected at the end of the trial and were tested for Helicobacter pylori stool antigen and intestinal parasites. Data on hematological parameters were obtained from endline measurements of the trial. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 84% among children with the highest prevalence for Ascaris (71%) followed by Trichuris (67%) and Hookworm (31%). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 39.7%. A total of 26.8% children were anemic, while low iron status as defined by a low serum ferritin (<20 μg/L) or elevated transferrin receptor (>5.0 mg/L) respectively was present in 18% and 11% of the children. No statistically significant association was found between Helicobacter pylori or any intestinal parasites and hemoglobin concentration, anemia or iron status among the children. However, there was a significant association between low hemoglobin concentration and low iron status based on serum ferritin (Coefficient: -0.28, 95% CI -0.54, -0.03) or transferrin receptor level (Coefficient: -0.89, 95% CI -1.18, -0.59) as well as anemia and low iron status based on serum transferrin receptor (OR 3.57; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results are in line with other studies from developing countries that showed no significant association between intestinal parasites or Helicobacter pylori infection and anemia, hemoglobin or iron status.

Keywords


Anemia; Helicobacter pylori; intestinal parasites; school age children; rural Bangladesh

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