Kids with worms suffer from anemia

JAKARTA (JP): Many children in Jakarta with worm-related diseases have also developed anemia, according to a survey by Kusuma Buana Foundation.

Buhori, a research staff at the foundation, said recently the survey, conducted in October found that around 1,000 of the 2,864 children who had worms from 10 elementary schools also had anemia.

SD Pisangan Baru 5 in East Jakarta had the highest prevalence with 69.1 percent, followed by SD Jatinegara 2 in East Jakarta with 54.5 percent; SD Kalibata in South Jakarta with 52.1 percent and SD Menteng Dalam 2 in Central Jakarta with 50.9 percent.

Anemia, which affects a child's ability to concentrate, was caused by the intestinal worms and lack of nutrition, he said.

Kusuma Buana Foundation and the Jakarta education and health agencies have been giving extra meals regularly to children at state schools to reduce the high prevalence of worm diseases.

The education agency estimated the level of worm-related diseases at 612,000, or nearly 69 percent of all elementary school children in the capital.

Buhori said the survey found that the hemoglobin (Hb) rate among the 1,000 children who developed anemia had dropped to as low as 10 gram percent, well below the 12 gram deemed as normal. The survey also found a higher prevalence among girls than boys.

The foundation has cooperated with the city administration since 1987 to seek ways of preventing worm-related diseases among children. (04)