Giardiasis and the nutritional status of Zimbabwean schoolchildren

Stool specimens, obtained from 1813 schoolchildren from communal lands, commercial farms and urban areas in Zimbabwe, were examined for helminth and protozoan parasites. The findings were collated with anthropometric data on the same children to investigate the relationship between intestinal parasitism and nutritional status. Protozoan infections were common with Giardia lamblia being identified in 17.4% of children. There was a strong association between giardial infection and undernutrition, wasting and stunting in these children. There was no evidence of an association between helminth infection and undernutrition. In view of the known impairment of absorption from the gut in giardiasis, it is suggested that giardial infection may be an important factor contributing to the low nutritional status of many primary schoolchildren in Zimbabwe.