Associations among soil-transmitted helminths, G6PD deficiency and asymptomatic malaria parasitemia, and anemia in schoolchildren from a conflict zone of northeast Myanmar

Abstract

In tropical areas of developing countries, the interactions among parasitic diseases such as soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and malaria, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd), are complex. Here, we investigated their interactions and impact on anemia in school students residing in a conflict zone of northeast Myanmar. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between July and December 2015 in two schools located along the China–Myanmar border. Stool samples from the schoolchildren were analyzed for STH infections, whereas finger-prick blood samples were analyzed for G6PDd, hemoglobin concentrations, and Plasmodium infections. Among 988 enrolled children, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura infections occurred in 3.3%, 0.8%, 31.5%, 1.2%, and 0.3%, respectively. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency was present in 16.9% of the children, and there was a very high prevalence of anemia (73%). Anthropometric measures performed on all children showed that 50% of the children were stunted and 25% wasted. Moderate to severe anemia was associated with STH infections, stunting, and wasting. In addition, children had increasing odds of anemia with increasing burden of infections. This study revealed a high prevalence of G6PDd, STHs, and anemia in schools located in a conflict zone. In areas where malnutrition and STH infections are rampant, testing for both glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and anemia should be considered before treating vivax malaria with 8-aminoquinolines.