Visceral leishmaniasis in Southern Ethiopia II. Nutritional risk factors

Abstract

Abstract: A prospective nutritional assessment was conducted as part of a longitudinal study of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in southern Ethiopia. The study showed that the nutritional status of the study population was generally poor and compared to the apparently healthy study subjects, individuals who later developed VL had poor or low nutritional status. Cured cases of VL were also found to have a compromised nutritional state. The study shows that poor nutritional status is a risk factor, predisposing to VL. Further, preceding VL was also indicated to have a profound effect in suppressing the nutritional status of victims of the disease. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(2):139144]