Download Geohelminth and Cryptosporidium infection in young Nigerian

Child (child/children)
Project Title
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Project Summary
Geohelminth and
Cryptosporidium
infection in young
Nigerian children
SS*/2007/162
Background:Geohelminths are important, widespread infections in
developing countries with Ascaris lumbricoides infecting 1472
million people, Trichuris trichiura 1049 million and hookworm 1298
million and morbidity assessed as disability adjusted life years is
about 39 million. The manifestations of severe disease include fatal
intestinal obstruction, severe anaemia, chronic dysentery and rectal
prolapse. Evidence has also accumulated that moderate to severe
infections can interfere with growth, appetite, physical fitness, work
capacity and cognitive development. Furthermore, infection with
Geohelminths affects the outcome of other important infectious
diseases such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis and renewed
interest in the consequences of helminth infection in the context of
the hygiene hypothesis, all greatly enhance the public health
significance of these parasites.Previous studies have focused
particularly upon the relationship between geohelminths and
nutritional morbidity and cognitive development in school age
children (5 to 15 years). WHO in their report of the 3rd Global
meeting of the Partners for Parasite control (2005) re-emphasised
their target of “regular treatment of at least 75% of all school-age
children at risk of morbidity due to schistosomiasis and soiltransmitted helminths infections by the year 2010”. Important new
data has emerged to indicate that children under 5 years are also
at risk from infection with geohelminths but these children have
been excluded from universal chemotherapy programmes in
developing countries. In 2002, WHO organised an informal
consultation to assess the current recommendations with regard to
the treatment of children under the age of 2 years. The report
which emerged from the consultation concluded that there was a
paucity of data on the epidemiology of geohelminths in these young
children and recommended that such studies be carried out
including the relationship between geohelminths and other
important infections. A number of papers described in the report
highlighted the beneficial effects of treatment for geohelminths in
these young children, including improved nutritional status, reduced
risk of stunting, reduced wasting, reduced moderate anemia and
increases in motor and language development.The proposed
project will form part of a wider project entitled “The relationship
between geohelminth infection and malaria in children between 12
and 60 months” funded by the Health Research Board under the
Health Research Board 2006
Project Title
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Project Summary
Global Health Research Awards (GHRA-06-07). The main aim of the
summer project is to determine the prevalence and intensity of
geohelminth infection in a sample of 1 to 5 year old children from
four Nigerian villages. A secondary aims will be to detect
Cryptosporidium infection in these children. Thirdly, the relationship
between geohelminths, Cryptosporidium and malaria will be
explored statistically. Finally, the relationship between host factors
and co-infections will be investigated statistically. Therefore, the
applicant will have the opportunity to receive training in the
diagnosis of several important human parasites and to understand,
enter and statistically analyse parasitological and questionnaire
data. Furthermore, he will become familiar with important global
health issues by means of interacting with postdoctoral and
doctoral members of Professor Holland’s team.
*SS - Summer student
Health Research Board 2006