A study on secretory IgA in malnourished children with chronic diarrhoea associated with parasitic infections.

Fifty infants and children of both sexes (6-36 months) were divided into three groups (gp I) 20 malnutrition with chronic diarrhoea, (gp II) 20 malnutrition without diarrhoea and (gp III) cross matched control. In gp I, 75% showed parasitic infections with a significant increase in serum IgA (133.7 +/- 18.9) as compared to gp II (P < 0.001). Mean concentration of IgA was 4.87 +/- 1.24. In gp II, 20% showed parasitic infections with a non significant increase in serum IgA (115.8 +/- 14.2) as compared to gp III. The mean urinary secretory IgA was 4.87 +/- 1.24, 1.12 +/- 0.325, and 1.44 +/- 0.35 respectively. There was more or less, no significant correlation between urinary secretory IgA and serum IgA level in the three groups.