Association between stunting and developmental delay in helminth-infected children and adolescents.

Objective The objective of this study is to assess the influence of stunting on the developmental delay of helminth-infected children and adolescents. Methods The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 1,764 subjects of both sexes from the city of Jequie (Bahia, Brazil), aged 7 to 17 years, infected with helminths (either Schistosoma mansoni alone or associated with associated with geohelminths). All subjects underwent anthropometric and Tanner stage assessment, and stool testing. Data on the family's socioeconomic status and sanitary conditions of the household were also collected. The data was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results The results of this study show a prevalence of stunting of 15.4% and an association between stunting and pubertal delay (OR=4.01; CI 95% 1.01-15.8). The negative impact of malnutrition on the production of both sexual and growth-related hormones may explain this association. Conclusion These findings suggest that inadequate nutrition contributes to developmental delay. This shows the importance of intervention strategies that guarantee better living and health conditions and nutrition for proper development.