Growth suppression in the Trichuris syndrome

ABSTRACT

The Trichuris Dysentery Syndrome (Ramsey, 1962) is an insidious, chronic condition which has clinical features similar to Chron's ileocolitis and ulcerative colitis, disease similarly associated with growth retardation. The attained heights and weights of 19 children at the time of diagnosis of intense, symptomatic Trichuris (whipworm) infection showed and average height of -2,4 Standard Deviation (Z) scores from the Tanner-Whitehouse median with weight, adjusted for height-age, -1.3 Z. We present data on the growth velocities of 11 of the children, in the half-year following worm explusion by mebendazole. These children returned to their home environment without food supplementation or close follow-up, but showed and average height velocity of + 5.5 Z and weight velocity (for height-age) of + 2.4 Z. Of 8 children with unequivocal height spurts only 3 had any weight spurt. We suggest that the pattern of catch-up growth points to the existence of some specific link between allergy or inflamation in the lower intestinal tract and suppression of linear growth, rather than to stunting due to general deprivation and undernutrition. (AU)