TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Praziquantel Treatment on the Nutritional Status of Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium
AU - Fok, Louis
AU - Dai, Hongying Daisy
AU - Brett-Major, David M.
AU - Animut, Abebe
AU - Erko, Berhanu
AU - Linville, John
AU - Negash, Yohannes
AU - Degarege, Abraham
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/2
Y1 - 2025/2
N2 - This quasi-experimental trial examined the relationship between Schistosoma haematobium infection and nutritional status, and the impact of single dose praziquantel (PZQ) therapy on undernutrition. A total of 353 children were examined, 112 of which were infected with S. haematobium and treated with PZQ. Children’s heights, weights, and mid-upper arm circumferences (MUAC) were measured at baseline and one month post-treatment. Infected children had significantly smaller mean BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZ) (−1.16 vs. 0.11, p < 0.01) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) (−0.61 vs. −0.31, p = 0.03) than the uninfected ones at baseline. S. haematobium infection was associated with underweight (adjusted OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.63–1.90). One month after treatment, BAZ, WAZ, height for age z-scores (HAZ), and MUAC scores were comparable between treated and control children. However, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of underweight among treated children, while no significant change was observed in the control group one month post-treatment. In conclusion, children infected with S. haematobium are likely to suffer from undernutrition; however, single dose PZQ therapy may not improve their nutritional status within one month of treatment. Future studies could have longer follow-up periods to better estimate the drug’s effect on nutrition.
AB - This quasi-experimental trial examined the relationship between Schistosoma haematobium infection and nutritional status, and the impact of single dose praziquantel (PZQ) therapy on undernutrition. A total of 353 children were examined, 112 of which were infected with S. haematobium and treated with PZQ. Children’s heights, weights, and mid-upper arm circumferences (MUAC) were measured at baseline and one month post-treatment. Infected children had significantly smaller mean BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZ) (−1.16 vs. 0.11, p < 0.01) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) (−0.61 vs. −0.31, p = 0.03) than the uninfected ones at baseline. S. haematobium infection was associated with underweight (adjusted OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.63–1.90). One month after treatment, BAZ, WAZ, height for age z-scores (HAZ), and MUAC scores were comparable between treated and control children. However, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of underweight among treated children, while no significant change was observed in the control group one month post-treatment. In conclusion, children infected with S. haematobium are likely to suffer from undernutrition; however, single dose PZQ therapy may not improve their nutritional status within one month of treatment. Future studies could have longer follow-up periods to better estimate the drug’s effect on nutrition.
KW - Schistosoma haematobium
KW - nutrition
KW - praziquantel
KW - urogenital schistosomiasis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85218858238&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85218858238&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/pathogens14020123
DO - 10.3390/pathogens14020123
M3 - Article
C2 - 40005500
AN - SCOPUS:85218858238
SN - 2076-0817
VL - 14
JO - Pathogens
JF - Pathogens
IS - 2
M1 - 123
ER -