Background: Parasitic infections have been shown to have deleterious effects on host nutritional status. In\r\naddition, although helmintic infection can modulate the host inflammatory response directed against the parasite, a\r\ncausal association between helminths and allergy remains uncertain. The present study was therefore designed to\r\nevaluate the relationship between nutritional status, parasite infection and prevalence of allergy among school\r\nchildren.\r\nMethods: A cross sectional study was performed involving school children in two elementary schools in Gondar,\r\nEthiopia. Nutritional status of these children was determined using anthropometric parameters (weight-for-age,\r\nheight-for-age and BMI-for-age). Epi-Info software was used to calculate z-scores. Stool samples were examined\r\nusing standard parasitological procedures. The serum IgE levels were quantified by total IgE ELISA kit following the\r\nmanufacturerââ?¬â?¢s instruction.\r\nResult: A total of 405 children (with mean age of 12.09.1 Ã?± 2.54 years) completed a self-administered allergy\r\nquestionnaire and provided stool samples for analysis. Overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and thinness/\r\nwasting was 15.1%, 25.2%, 8.9%, respectively. Of the total, 22.7% were found to be positive for intestinal parasites.\r\nThe most prevalent intestinal parasite detected was Ascaris lumbricoides (31/405, 7.6%). There was no statistically\r\nsignificant association between prevalence of malnutrition and the prevalence of parasitic infections. Median total\r\nserum IgE level was 344 IU/ml (IQR 117ââ?¬â??2076, n = 80) and 610 IU/ml (143ââ?¬â??1833, n = 20), respectively, in children\r\nwithout and with intestinal parasite infection (Z = -0.198, P > 0.8). The prevalence of self reported allergy among\r\nthe subset was 8%. IgE concentration was not associated either with the presence of parasitic infection or history of\r\nallergy.\r\nConclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition, intestinal parasitism and allergy was not negligible in this population.\r\nIn addition, there was no significant association between the prevalence of allergy and their nutritional status, and\r\nparasite infection. Further research prospective observational and intervention studies are required to address the\r\nquestion of causality between nutritional factors, parasites, and allergy.
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