Intestinal nematode infection and anaemia in developing countries

doi:10.1136/bmj.39211.572905.80

BMJ 2007;334:1065-1066 (26 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39211.572905.80

Editorials

Intestinal nematode infection and anaemia in developing countries

Deworming and iron supplementation are cheap and effective

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In low and middle income countries, about 1.2 billion peopleare infected with roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), and morethan 700 million are infected with hookworm (Necator americanusor Ancylostoma duodenale) or whipworm (Trichuris trichiura).¹Infection with intestinal nematodes is linked with poverty becauseof its association with unsafe disposal of faeces, in whichthe infective stages develop.

Infection can occur in all age groups but is most common inschool age children. Though infection can be fatal,² the majorburden of disease is due to its insidious effects on physicaland cognitive development during childhood.³ Anaemia, for example,is commonly associated with infection and can impair cognitiveability.⁴ In areas of high prevalence of infection in East Africa,15-25% of anaemia in schoolchildren is due to hookworm infection.⁵

In this week's BMJ, a systematic review of randomised trialsby Gulani and colleagues assesses . . . [Full text of this article]

Shally Awasthi, professor¹, Donald Bundy, lead specialist²

¹ Department of Pediatrics, King George's Medical University, Lucknow (UP), India 226003, ² Human Development Network, World Bank, Washington, DC 20433 USA

sawasthi@sancharnet.in

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