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Biomedical subjects

M C Latham

Publications and source records attributed to M C Latham.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Regression of splenomegaly and hepatomegaly in children treated for Schistosoma haematobium infection.

During a study in Kenya of the relationships between Schistosoma haematobium infection and anemia and growth, evidence was found to suggest that this infection was associated with splenomegaly in children, and that both splenomegaly and hepatomegaly regressed in children treated for urinary schistosomiasis, compared with a placebo group. These results imply that S. haematobium is partially responsible for the splenomegaly and hepatomegaly found in this malarious area, and that treatment for S. haematobium may cause a significant regression of splenomegaly and hepatomegaly in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Urinary iron loss and physical fitness of Kenyan children with urinary schistosomiasis.

Daily urinary iron loss and physical fitness were determined in Kenyan primary school children who had low-medium (16-177 eggs/10 ml adj) or high (200-1,194 eggs/10 ml adj) S. hematobium egg counts compared with a matched group of control or uninfected children before and after antischistosomal treatment with metrifonate. The 3 groups did not differ significantly before treatment in age, sex ratio, anthropometry or prevalence of other parasite infections. Before treatment, mean iron loss in the high egg count group (n = 14) was 652 micrograms/24 hr and was significantly higher than losses in the low-medium and control groups (losses = 278, 149 micrograms; n = 19, 12 respectively). Iron loss in infected children was correlated with egg count (r = 0.40) and log of egg count (r = 0.56, P less than 0.0003). After treatment iron loss decreased in the infected groups and post-treatment iron losses did not differ significantly. Physical fitness scores, measured with the Harvard Step Test, showed that the control group (score 81) was significantly more fit than the high egg count group (score 69) before treatment. Fitness scores improved significantly in both infected groups after treatment, and post-treatment fitness scores did not differ significantly between the 3 groups. This study provides evidence that relatively heavy infections of S. hematobium can cause urinary iron loss which, if it persists, is great enough to produce iron deficiency anemia and can also reduce physical fitness of children, but that both of these negative effects are reversible with treatment.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Relationships of Schistosoma hematobium, hookworm and malarial infections and metrifonate treatment to hemoglobin level in Kenyan school children.

Relationships between hemoglobin level and S. hematobium, hookworm, and malarial infection before and six months after metrifonate treatment were studied in Kenyan primary school children in an area where anemia, S. hematobium and hookworm are common (prevalences 61%, 46%, and 95%, respectively) and malaria is holoendemic. The mean hemoglobin level in children from one school, both with and without S. hematobium infection (n = 250), was significantly lower in children with higher S. hematobium egg counts, heavier hookworm infections, positive Plasmodium slides, and larger spleens. All children with light-moderate S. hematobium infection (1-500 eggs/10 ml adj) in four schools were examined (Exam 1), allocated at random to either placebo (MIP, n = 198) or metrifonate treatment (MIT, n = 202) groups, treated, and examined again six months later (Exam 2). Hemoglobin levels rose significantly in both groups between exams, but the rise in the MIT group was 30% higher than in the MIP group (1.3 vs. 1.0 g/dl, P less than 0.014). The increase in hemoglobin level in the MIT group was significantly and positively correlated with decreases between exams in S. hematobium and hookworm egg counts and with higher malarial parasite counts at Exam 1 (Pearson r's 0.21, 0.20, 0.20, respectively, P less than 0.01). A stepwise multiple regression equation using hemoglobin rise between exams as the dependent variable showed that decreases in S. hematobium and hookworm egg counts were equally important determinants of hemoglobin rise and that malarial parasite count was almost as important as the changes in intensities of the helminth infections. These results show that treatment for S. hematobium with metrifonate can increase hemoglobin levels in children in an area where S. hematobium and anemia are common. They also emphasize the importance of measuring multiple parasitic infections and using multivariate statistical techniques such as multiple regression analysis in order to define the relationships between parasitic infections and morbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Sensitivity and specificity of reagent strips in screening of Kenyan children for Schistosoma haematobium infection.

The reliability of using urinalysis reagent strips, which semi-quantitatively measure hematuria and proteinuria, to correctly select urine specimens found by microscopy to have Schistosoma haematobium eggs was studied in 359 previously unscreened Kenyan primary school children. The presence of and degree of hematuria and proteinuria were highly correlated with the presence of S. haematobium eggs and with egg counts in urine specimens. Hematuria was more strongly correlated with S. haematobium egg counts than was proteinuria. The ability of presence of hematuria or proteinuria, or both, to select all microscopically positive cases of urinary schistosomiasis for treatment was tested using sensitivity (ST) and specificity (SP) analysis. Selection of cases using 1) presence of hematuria alone, and 2) presence of either hematuria or proteinuria had the highest combined ST and SP (88% ST, 97% SP; 91% ST, 92% SP, respectively). Most of the few cases detected by microscopy but not by reagent strips had low egg counts. The presence of hematuria alone failed to detect only 12% of S. haematobium-positive cases (mostly low egg counts), and only 3% of S. haematobium-negative persons had urinary blood and would have received unnecessary treatment. Preliminary studies on the use of reagent strips to screen previously infected children 6 months after treatment, and the effects of seasonal variations in temperature and humidity on urine specimen volume, egg counts, and reagent strip results are also presented. The practical field use and cost of reagent strips in S. haematobium control programs are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Parasitic infections, anaemia and nutritional status: a study of their interrelationships and the effect of prophylaxis and treatment on workers in Kwale District, Kenya.

A study was conducted between January and August 1979 on 150 male roadworkers in Kwale District in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. At the baseline examination 59% had hookworm (mean of 227 epg +/- 541), 38% had infections of Schistosoma haematobium (mean 52 +/- 82 ova per 10 ml urine), 23% had a blood film positive for malarial parasites, 47% had anaemia (Hb below 13g/dl), and 31% had a percentage weight for height below 80% of a reference value for healthy men. It was found that anaemia was significantly associated with hookworm infections and egg counts. Three interventions were evaluated. These consisted of providing pyrantel pamoate for hookworm to all men, treating the S. haematobium infections with metrifonate, and giving weekly chloroquine prophylaxis for suppression of malaria to one group of men. A final examination conducted 16 weeks later showed a significant improvement in haemoglobin levels in anaemic men treated for hookworm and in those receiving chloroquine compared with those receiving placebos. Multiple regression analyses revealed that both hookworm and S. haematobium egg counts were associated with anaemia at the baseline examinations, that factors related to the treatment of hookworm and prophylaxis for suppression of malaria were related to haemoglobin increases in anaemic men, and that successful treatment of urinary schistosomiasis was associated with weight gain. The feasibility of the interventions was good and the costs moderately low.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Intestinal parasitic infections of men in four regions of rural Kenya.

Faecal samples were obtained from 906 men living in four different regions of rural Kenya: the cool Highlands, the humid coastal lowlands, the equatorial Lake Victoria basin and the arid marginal highlands. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections is reported and compared, contrasted and discussed in terms of the typical environmental conditions in each region. Almost 70% of men appeared to be infected with intestinal helminths; hookworm was most common. The regional prevalence of hookworm infections appeared to be related to relative humidity.

Environment↗
PubMed1982

A comparative study of the nutritional status, parasitic infections and health of male roadworkers in four areas of Kenya.

The nutritional status, parasitic infections and general health of 801 male roadworkers living in four different areas of Kenya, namely, the highlands, coastal lowlands, Lake Victoria basin and the semiarid north-west, were investigated. Undernutrition was common in all areas but was most marked among men in the semi-arid area. Anaemia was most prevalent in the coastal lowlands where 41% of men had a haemoglobin level less than 13.0 g/dl. Hookworm eggs were seen in the faeces of 40% of all men and in 69% of samples collected in the coastal lowlands. The Lake Victoria basin was a significant focus of infection with Schistosoma mansoni, 51% of faecal samples containing its eggs; S. haematobium also occurred but was most common in the coastal lowlands. Stages of Plasmodium spp. were most commonly observed in blood smears collected from men near Lake Victoria and the coast, two significant foci of malaria. An analysis of variance was used to examine the relationship between variables and indicated that the most significant association was between hookworm infections and low haemoglobin levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The prevalence and the etiology of the nutritional anemias in Guyana.

A survey was carried out in Guyana to determine the prevalence and the etiology of the nutritional anemias among both sexes, in various age groups, and in pregnant and lactating women. The sample consisted of 590 subjects drawn from 103 households selected by multistage cluster sampling. Anthropometric and hematological measurements and stool investigations for intestinal parasites were carried out in each subject. Socioeconomic and other demographic data were obtained for each household. High prevalences of anemia, although of a relatively mild degree, were found among all age groups especially among pregnant and lactating women. The major factors related to Hb levels were found to be inadequate consumption of food rich in the erythropoietic nutrients, iron deficiency, age, sex, pregnancy, household income, and percentage of household income spent on food. A number of socioeconomic and other demographic variables were associated with anemia. More anemia was found in urban than in rural areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Anemia of pregnancy in Liberia, West Africa: a therapeutic trial.

Research was conducted in Liberia, West Africa to ascertain which hematinics produce the best Hb response in women during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. After obtaining background information, each of the 621 subjects was randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Group 1 was given 60 mg iron once daily, group 2 was given 60 mg iron 3 times daily, group 3 was given 60 mg iron 3 times daily plus a 5-mg folic acid tablet once daily, and group 4 was given the same treatment as group 3 but also a weekly antimalarial prophylactic. For comparison, 58 untreated women in their 3rd trimester were also studied. Before therapy the five groups were similar with respect to selected socioeconomic status, health, and dietary variables. Hb response to therapy was measured at 4-wk intervals from the 24th wk of gestation until term. The Hb rises in all four treatment groups were significantly (p less than 0.001) higher than the base-line values at 4, 8, and 12 wk after the interventions. The percentage of anemic women was reduced from 78 to 45% over the 12 wk of supplementation. Hb rises in groups 3 and 4 were not significantly different from those in groups receiving iron alone. It is concluded that iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Worker productivity and the nutritional status of Kenyan road construction laborers.

The effects of energy supplementation (group I received 200 kcal/day and group II received 1000/kcal day) were examined on road workers in Kenya. Anthropometric, dietary, worker productivity, clinical hematology, and parasitology data were collected from 224 workers of both sexes or, subsamples of these workers at base-line, midpoint, and final measurement periods. Sixty-seven percent of the work force was less than 85% of weight for height. Females tended to be better nourished than males. Multiple regression analysis showed that increases in arm circumference and Hb levels were associated with significant productivity gains of about 4%. At the midpoint, group II males gained 1.10 kg (p less than 0.0003) while group I males showed no change. Weight loss during the latter part of the study resulted in no significant final weight change for males. "Successful" supplementation was weakly associated with a productivity increase for group II workers of 12.5% (p less than 0.10).

Adolescent↗