Comparative effects of vivax malaria, fever and diarrhoea on child growth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The adverse impact of Plasmodium vivax on child health beyond acute febrile illness is poorly studied. The effect of vivax malaria on child growth was evaluated and compared with diarrhoeal disease and non-specific fever.

Methods

Using data from a 43-month longitudinal cohort of children 0-72 months of age (n = 442) in the Peruvian Amazon, ponderal and linear growth velocities over 2-, 4- and 6-month periods were examined using longitudinal models and related to the incidence of disease during the same period.

Results

An episode of vivax malaria led to 138.6 g (95% confidence interval (CI) 81.9-195.4), 108.6 g (62.8-153.2) and 61 g (20.9-101.1) less weight gain over 2-, 4- and 6-month intervals, respectively. These deficits were larger than both diarrhoea (

SUBMITTER: Lee G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3324452 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature