Ascariasis, hookworm infection and serum retinol amongst children in Nepal.

The study reports on the association between serum retinol levels and prevalence of two intestinal helminths in a random sample of 592 children, 6-120 months of age. Faecal analyses were performed by Kato thick-smear technique, recording the presence of hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. Serum retinol levels were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and expressed in micrograms/dl. The presence of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs was associated with lower levels of serum retinol in children below 60 months of age (p < 0.05). The presence of hookworm eggs was not associated with lower levels of serum retinol in any age group. In addition children who received at least one course of mebendazole during the past 12 months recorded higher serum retinol levels than children who did not receive it (p < 0.01).