Conclusions This systematic review found that most of the evidence associating malaria and malnutrition comes from P. falciparum endemic areas , with a significant heterogeneity in studies ’ design .
Apparently malnutrition has not a great impact on malaria morbidity , but could have a negative impact on malaria mortality and severity .
Most studies show no association between malaria and subsequent malnutrition in P. falciparum areas .
In Plasmodium vivax endemic areas , malaria was associated with malnutrition in children .
Background Multiple studies in various parts of the world have analysed the association of nutritional status on malaria using anthropometric measures , but results differ due to the heterogeneity of the study population , species of the parasite , and other factors involved in the host and parasite relationship .
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review on the inter-relationship of nutritional status based on anthropometry and malarial infection .
Malaria and nutritional status in children living on the coast of Kenya.
BACKGROUND The relation between malnutrition and malaria is controversial . On the one h and , malaria may cause malnutrition , whereas on the other h and , malnutrition itself may modulate susceptibility to the disease . OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate the association between Plasmodium falciparum malaria and malnutrition in a cohort of Kenyan children . DESIGN The study involved the longitudinal follow-up of children aged 0 - 95 [ corrected ] mo for clinical malaria episodes and anthropometric measurements through 4  cross-sectional surveys . We used Poisson regression analysis to investigate the association between malaria and nutritional status . RESULTS The crude incidence rate ratios ( IRRs ) for malaria during the 6-mo period before assessment in children defined as malnourished on the basis of low height-for-age or low weight-for-age z scores ( < -2 ) were 1.17 ( 95 % CI : 0.91 , 1.50 ; P=0.21 ) and 0.94 ( 0.71 , 1.25 ; P=0.67 ) , respectively , which suggests no association between malaria and the subsequent development of protein-energy malnutrition . However , we found that age acted as an effect modifier in the association between malaria episodes and malnutrition on prospect i ve follow-up . The IRR for malaria in children aged 0 - 2 y , who were subsequently characterized as underweight , was 1.65 ( 1.10 , 2.20 ; P=0.01 ) , and a significant overall relation between malaria and stunting was found on regression analysis after adjustment for the interaction with age ( IRR : 1.91 ; 1.01 , 3.58 ; P=0.04 ) . CONCLUSION Although children living on the coast of Kenya continue to experience clinical episodes of uncomplicated malaria throughout the first decade of life , the effect of malaria on nutritional status appears to be greatest during the first 2 y of life
Conclusions This systematic review found that most of the evidence associating malaria and malnutrition comes from P. falciparum endemic areas , with a significant heterogeneity in studies ’ design .
Apparently malnutrition has not a great impact on malaria morbidity , but could have a negative impact on malaria mortality and severity .
Most studies show no association between malaria and subsequent malnutrition in P. falciparum areas .
In Plasmodium vivax endemic areas , malaria was associated with malnutrition in children .
Background Multiple studies in various parts of the world have analysed the association of nutritional status on malaria using anthropometric measures , but results differ due to the heterogeneity of the study population , species of the parasite , and other factors involved in the host and parasite relationship .
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review on the inter-relationship of nutritional status based on anthropometry and malarial infection .