GENDER DIFFERENCES IN GROWTH OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WITH SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND GEOHELMINTH INFECTION

Light or moderate intensity infection with Schistosoma mansoni may con tribute to growth deficits. We report on the effects of treatment for S. mansoni on growth and development in Brazilian schoolchildren. Anth ropometric measurements were taken from 539 S. mansoni-infected childr en and their age- and sex-matched egg-negative controls between the ag es of 7 and 15 years. The children as a whole exhibited chronic malnut rition, with growth retardation in height evident in 21% of the popula tion. Infected children, however, were significantly smaller in height , weight, mid upper arm circumference (UAC), tricep skinfold (TSF), an d subscapular skinfold (SSF) measurements than control children (P < 0 .05). These differences were due primarily to a greater disparity betw een infected and egg-negative girls in height (P < 0.01), weight (P = 0.01), UAC (P = 0.02), and TSF (P < 0.01). Nevertheless, girls demonst rated a better level of development and nutrition compared with boys. While infected boys were shorter and weighed less than controls, these differences were not significant. Growth and development in girls was negatively correlated with intensity of infection. Coinfection with S . mansoni and Trichuris appeared to act synergistically in the develop ment of malnutrition.