Abstract
BackgroundAnaemia reduces cognitive potential in school children, retards their growth and predisposes them to other diseases. As there is a paucity of data on the current burden of P. falciparum, S. mansoni and soil transmitted helminths (STH) infections and their correlation with schoolchildren’s anemia in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we collect these data.MethodsThis study reports baseline data collected from a randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of IPT with SP and SP-PQ on anemia and malaria morbidity in Congolese schoolchildren (Trial registration: NCT01722539; PACTR201211000449323). S. mansoni and STH infections were assessed using kato-katz technique. Malaria infection and hemoglobin concentration were assessed using Blood smear and Hemocontrol device, respectively.ResultsA total of 616 primary schoolchildren from 4 to 13 years old were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of Plasmodium spp. infection was 18.5% (95%CI:15.6–21.9). Amongst those infected, 24 (21%), 40 (35.1%), 40 (35.1%), 10 (8.8%), had light, moderate, heavy, very high malaria parasite density, respectively. Above 9 years of age (p = 0.02), male and history of fever (p = 0.04) were both associated with malaria infection. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 6.4% (95%CI:4.4–9.1). Girls were associated with S. mansoni infection (p = 0.04). T. trichiura was the most prevalent STH infection (26.3%), followed by A. lumbricoides (20.1%). Co-infection with malaria-S. mansoni and malaria-STH was, respectively, 1.5% (CI95%:0.7–3.3) and 6.4% (CI95% 4.4–9.1). The prevalence of anemia was found to be 41.6% (95%CI:37.7–45.6) and anemia was strongly related with Plasmodium ssp infection (aOR:4.1; CI95%:2.6–6.5;p<0.001) and S. mansoni infection (aOR:3.3;CI95%:1.4–7.8;p<0.01).ConclusionMalaria and S. mansoni infection were strongly associated with high prevalence of anemia in schoolchildren. Therefore, specific school-based interventions, such as intermittent preventive treatment or prophylaxis, LLITN distribution, anthelminthic mass treatment and micronutrient supplementation are needed to improve school children’s health.
Highlights
Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections compose a considerable disease burden in schoolchildren in developing countries
Asymptomatic Plasmodium infections, if untreated, persist and maintain malaria-induced inflammation that is commonly associated with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) due to impaired intestinal iron absorption, impaired iron release from hepatocytes, and impairment of the recycling of iron derived from phagocytosis of parasitized red blood cells [7]
Included children in the two primary schools were broadly similar in regard to age, sex, anthropometric indices, bed net use, contact with river, and symptoms histories characteristics
Summary
Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections compose a considerable disease burden in schoolchildren in developing countries. These parasitic infections show a similar geographic distribution and polyparasitism of P.falciparum, schistosomiasis and STH infections have been reported from various epidemiological settings in Africa [1,2,3,4,5]. In Low Income Countries (LICs), more than half of the school-aged population suffers from anaemia and in Sub Saharan Africa, approximately 85 million school-aged children are affected Anaemia reduces their cognitive potential, retards their growth, and predisposes them to other diseases [11]. As there is a paucity of data on the current burden of P. falciparum, S. mansoni and soil transmitted helminths (STH) infections and their correlation with schoolchildren’s anemia in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we collect these data
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