Cognitive performance of children living in endemic areas for Plasmodium vivax.

BACKGROUND: The role of repeated episodes of malaria on the cognitive development of children is a relevant issue in endemic areas since it can have a long-lasting impact on individual lifespan. The aim of the current paper was to investigate whether the history of malaria can impair the verbal and performance skills of children living in an endemic area with low transmission of Plasmodium vivax malaria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with children living in an endemic area of P. vivax malaria in Brazilian Amazon basin. The history of episodes of malaria was used as criteria for inclusion of children in the groups. The cognitive performance was assessed by the Wechsler intelligence scale for children-III edition (WISC-III), which was applied to the participants of study by two trained psychologists. RESULTS: A total of 17 cases and 26 controls was included in the study. A significant low score of verbal quotient was found in the cases (p = 0.005), however, the performance IQ was similar in both groups (p = 0.304). The full-scale IQ was significantly lower in the cases when compared to the controls (p = 0.042). The factorials index showed significant difference only in the subtest of verbal comprehension with the lower values in the cases (p = 0.0382), compared to the controls. The perceptual organization (p = 0.363), freedom from distractability (p = 0.180) and processing speed (p = 0.132) were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Children with a history of vivax malaria has a significant impairment of verbal and full-scale quotients as well as a significant low index of verbal comprehension. These findings are likely due to the absenteeism caused by malaria and by the low parental education, which impairs an adequate response to the environmental stimulus.

Dapsone and body mass index in subjects with multibacillary leprosy.

BACKGROUND: The physiological changes in obese subjects can modify the pharmacokinetic profiles of drugs influencing the therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: In this study, the authors compare plasma dapsone trough levels of multibacillary leprosy subjects stratified by body mass index (BMI) to evaluate if obesity plays a significant role on drug levels. The relationship between drug levels and BMI was also determined. Dapsone was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and BMI based on World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: At steady state, the median plasma dapsone trough level was significantly lower in obesity class 2 group, when compared with other groups, but they were similar between normal weight and preobesity groups. A weak association between drug levels and BMI was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity promotes a significant reduction in plasma dapsone trough levels of subjects with multibacillary leprosy with a weak association between drug levels and BMI.

Ascaris-Trichuris association and malnutrittion in brasilian children / Ascaris-Trichuris association and malnutrittion in brasilian children

This work was designed to evaluate the role intestinal parasites on nutritional status in three rural areas of Brazil. A total of 520 children aged 1-12 years were studied through a questionanaire concerning housing, socio-economic conditions and a 24-h food intake recall. Measurements of weight and height were also performed, and three stool samples were collected on consecutive days for parasitological analysis...

Infecçao por Entamoeba histolytica em creches mantidas pela Prefeitura Municipal de Sao Paulo,SP,Brasil,1982-1983 / Entamoeba histolytica infection inday nurseries supported by Municipal Prefecture of Sao Paulo (Brazil),1982-1983

No periodo compreendido entre 1982 e 1983,efetuaram-se exames parasitologicos de fezes de 3.076 crianças de 0 a 6 anos,matriculadas em52 creches mantidas pela Prefeitura do Municipio de Sao Paulo, e em 50 manipuladores de alimentos, empregados em 18 dessas creches. Encontrou-se frequencia de infecçao por Entamoeba histolytica de 5,92% entre crianças e de 2,0% entre os adultos.Nao se evidenciou associaçao significante entre o sexo das crianças e frequencia de infecçao por E. histolytica.Durante 1982, a infecçao por este protozoario foi mais comum no inverno e na primavera; no ano seguinte, as frequencias mais elevadas foram assinaladas na primavera e verao. Nao se encontrou, por outro lado, diferença significativa entre frequencias de infecçao po E.histolytica nasquatro regioes em que dividiu-se o Municipio de Sao Paulo.Considerou-se pouco expressivo o papel de manipuladores de alimentos na transmissao de E.histolytica, nas condiçoes prevalentes nas 18 creches onde essa variavel foi estudada, face a ausencia de associaçao entre presença de amebiase nesse grupo de individuos e maiores indices de infecçao nas crianças examinadas.