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Parasitic infection in malnourished school children: effects on behaviour and EEG

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

M. Levav ,
A. F. Mirsky ,
P. M. Schantz ,
S. Castro  and
M. E. Cruz
M. Levav
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Psychology and Psychopathology, NIMH, USA
A. F. Mirsky
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Psychology and Psychopathology, NIMH, USA
P. M. Schantz
Affiliation:
Parasitic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control, USA
S. Castro
Affiliation:
Academia Ecuatoriana de Neurociencias, Quito, Ecuador
M. E. Cruz
Affiliation:
Academia Ecuatoriana de Neurociencias, Quito, Ecuador
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Extract

This paper describes a study of 194 children (aged 9–13) from a mountain village in Ecuador who were infected with one or more species of intestinal helminth or protozoan parasite. In addition to parasite load, the assessment consisted of a battery of psychological and neuropsychological tests, an EEG examination, measures of iodine level, presence of goitre and level of nutrition. We found that, in general, parasite infection, as measured at the baseline level, was not associated with cognitive impairment. The intensity of infection with A. lumbricoides, however, was correlated with the level of verbal ability and with inhibition-control aspects of cognitive behaviour. Multivariate analysis with level of nutrition, EEG status and parasite burden showed a consistent main effect of the degree of nutrition on neuropsychological performance, particularly the language, problem solving and inhibition-control dimensions.

Keywords

neuropsychological testsparasite infectionmalnutritionEEG
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 110 , Issue 1 , January 1995 , pp. 103 - 111
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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