Stunting in pre-school and school-age children in the Peruvian highlands and its association with Fasciola infection and demographic factors.

ABSTRACT: Fascioliasis is a zoonotic trematode infection that is endemic in the highlands of Peru. Chronic fascioliasis can be asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed for years. Chronic malnutrition in children, as manifested by stunting, leads to delayed cognitive development and lost productivity. We hypothesized that fascioliasis is among the factors associated with stunting in children from endemic areas. We conducted a cross-sectional study among children attending pre-school and school in 26 communities in the Anta province in the Cusco region of Peru. We conducted interviews to collect information on demographic, socioeconomic, and medical history. Blood was collected and tested for complete cell count and FAS2 ELISA for Fasciola antibodies. Three stool samples per participant were tested for par

SUBMITTER: Webb CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8248620 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature