Parasitism and nutritional status of poor suburban jamaican toddlers

ABSTRACT

A survey was conducted on 145 toddlers, 6-36 months of age, in a suburb in Kingston, Jamica. The aim of the study was to measure the prevalence of and association between parasitism and nutritional status. Forty-two per cent were malnourished ( <80% of standard weight for age), most commonly (76%) in the 12-17 month age group. Thirty-four per cent hada one or more parasites, particularly Trichuris trichuria (21%) or Ascaris lumbricoides (19%). The peak prevalence of parasitism was among the 30-36 month old children (63%). Nutritional status did not differ between children with and without parasites. Most of them had light of infection. Therefore, in this sample, there was no association between parasitism and nutritional status