CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION IN INFANCY AS A CAUSE OF MALNUTRITION - A COMMUNITY STUDY FROM GUINEA-BISSAU, WEST-AFRICA

Cryptosporidium parvum causes persistent diarrhea in young children in developing countries. To determine the interaction between nutritiona l status and cryptosporidiosis, an open cohort of 1064 children younge r than 3 y of age was followed for 1441 child-years by weekly diarrhea recall visits. A total of 5072 weight and 4264 height measurements wa s made. There were no tendencies of low weight (P = 0.38) or height (P = 0.16) in children who acquired cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidiosis in infancy was accompanied by an estimated weight loss of 392 g (95% CI: 247, 538 g) in boys and 294 g (95% CI: 109, 479 g) in girls, corre sponding to 3.7% and 2.9% of mean weight, respectively, at 2 y of age. No significant catch-up growth covered for this loss in weight. A sim ilar effect in linear growth was shown (P = 0.02). Although it has bee n suggested that the effect of infections on nutrition is usually tran sient because of catch-up growth, the present study suggests that cryp tosporidiosis in infancy has a permanent effect on growth.