Impact of Worm Infections on Children's Fitness in Côte d'Ivoire
Author Information
Author(s): Müller Ivan, Coulibaly Jean T., Fürst Thomas, Knopp Stefanie, Hattendorf Jan, Krauth Stefanie J., Stete Katarina, Righetti Aurélie A., Glinz Dominik, Yao Adrien K., Pühse Uwe, N'Goran Eliézer K., Utzinger Jürg
Primary Institution: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
Hypothesis
Is there a relationship between helminth infection status among school-aged children and their physical fitness?
Conclusion
Children in Côte d'Ivoire showed good physical fitness, regardless of their helminth infection status.
Supporting Evidence
- 85.3% of children were infected with Schistosoma haematobium.
- 71.2% of children had Plasmodium spp. infections.
- Children with no parasite infections had a VO2 max of 53.5 ml kg−1 min−1.
- VO2 max was influenced by sex and age, but not by helminth infection.
- Children showed good physical fitness despite high rates of infection.
Takeaway
This study looked at how worm infections affect kids' fitness. It found that kids with worms were just as fit as those without.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 156 school children aged 7–15 years, assessing their physical fitness through a shuttle run test and checking for helminth infections.
Potential Biases
Children with severe infections may have been excluded from the fitness test, potentially biasing results.
Limitations
Nutritional parameters and hemoglobin levels were not assessed, which could influence physical fitness.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 12 years, with a range of 7-15 years; 91 boys and 65 girls participated.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 52.0–53.4 ml kg−1 min−1
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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