2025, Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part B

Background: Intestinal parasite infections (IPIs) and malnutrition constitute significant public health issues in Bangladesh in children under five years of age. Currency These two illnesses are comorbid and interact in a manner that has a compounded effect on hematological growth, development, and health. Rural regions are more susceptible owing to insufficient sanitation, a scarcity of health facilities, and restricted access to food resources.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of enteroparasitosis and its potential association with malnutrition, especially considering the children's residency (urban or rural) and their hematological profiles.

Methods: Two hundred children under five years of age, exhibiting either gastrointestinal disorders or symptoms of malnutrition, were included in cross-sectional research conducted from January 2020 to September 2025. Parasites were screened in stool samples, while hematological indices and H. pylori IgG antibodies were tested in the blood. Body mass measures and nutritional status were assessed with the WHO Z-score. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS v26, employing Chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression.

Results: The overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 50.5%, rural children (63%) were significantly more infected than their urban (38%) counterparts (p<0.001). Malnutrition was seen in 47% of the participants and was more prevalent in the rural areas (58% vs 36%, p<0.001). Giardia lamblia were the most frequently observed parasite (46.5%). The rate of malnutrition was significantly greater among children with parasitic infection (58.4%) than non-infected (35.3%) (P=0.001). The highest susceptibility was observed in the 6-24 months stratum. H. pylori seropositivity and anemia were also more common in infected and malnourished children. The malnourished and infected group had the lowest level of hemoglobin (9.4 g/dL, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Malnutrition in children under five is strongly correlated with IP infection, especially in rural areas. Together, these elements cause anemia and render the hematological profiles ineffective. Targeted interventions like nutritional supplementation, deworming, and WASH behavior modification are desperately needed, especially for young children.