THE IMPACT OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS ON HUMAN-NUTRITION

This article reviews studies that examine the negative effects of urin ary and intestinal schistosomiasis on the following nutritional parame ters in humans: urinary and faecal blood and iron loss, anaemia and ha emoglobin levels, proteinuria, child growth and adult protein-energy s tatus, physical fitness, physical activity, appetite and symptomatolog y. The conclusions reached are (1) that community-level treatment and control of schistosomiasis in areas where the infection, protein-energ y malnutrition, and anaemia are common are to be encouraged and are li kely to improve child growth, appetite, physical fitness and activity levels and to decrease anaemia and symptoms of the infection, and (2) that further studies are needed to determine how much and by what mean s decreases in and treatment of schistosomal infection may improve nut ritional status, cognitive and school performance and attendance, and work capacity and productivity in communities with different amounts o f parasitism and malnutrition.