CHRONIC MALNUTRITION AND TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI INFECTION IN CHILDREN

The distribution of T. cruzi infection overlaps regions with high prev alence of child malnutrition, We examined the possible association bet ween T. cruzi infection and chronic malnutrition. In a cross-sectional survey conducted among 1900 7-12 year-old schoolchildren in 60 villag e schools in central Brazil, anthropometric measurements (NCHS) taken from 153 children with at least two positive serological tests for ant ibodies against T. cruzi (IIF, ELISA, IHA) were compared to two age an d sea seronegative matched classmates. Information on children's medic al history and socio-economic status (SES) were collected from parents of the participants. Seropositive children had a 2.3-fold risk (95% C I 1.4-4.0) of being stunted (z-score < -2.0 of height-for-age) when co mpared to uninfected children even after adjusting for confounding var iables, Being underweight (z-score < -2.0 of weight-for-age) was also statistically associated with seropositivity to T. cruzi (OR = 2.8, 95 % CI 1.4-5.6). No statistical evidence of multiplicative interaction b etween nutritional status and SES was detected, Further studies on nut rition and metabolism are required to look into a possible physiopatho logical mechanism for this association.