Intestinal parasites, inflammation and nutritional status in Mexican children

Intestinal parasitic infections and malnutrition are very common in children of low and middle income countries. Intestinal parasitic infection, obesity and micronutrient deficiencies account for more than 10% of the global disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs). Mexico is a case in point. At least half of the children are estimated to be infected with at least one species of intestinal parasites. In addition, micronutrient deficiencies such as iron (34-39%) and zinc (19-24%) are highly prevalent while the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is more than 30%. These co-existing conditions place a heavy burden on the health care system in Mexico. Thus, it is important to study their relationship for the planning of future public health programs in the country. In this thesis, we study the associations between intestinal parasitic infections and nutritional outcomes in a pediatric population with high rates of overweight and obesity.