The objective of this study was to compare growth retardation frequency, and 24-h food intake data of children with or without positive Montenegro (leishmanin) test, examined in Porteirinha town, Brazil. Daily nutrient intake was determined by 24-h food intake recall and the anthropometric data were compared to the standard values from WHO. Montenegro-positive (n = 9) and Montenegro-negative (n = 17) groups showed similar age (5.5 ± 1.9 vs 6.7 ± 2.3y), and energy (1,456.8 ± 314.8 vs 1,316.2 ± 223.8kcal) and protein (50.4 ± 16.7 vs 49.9 ± 13.9g) daily consumption, respectively. Montenegro-positive children had higher percentage of stunting than their Montenegro-negative counterparts (44.4 vs 5.9), suggesting that previous Leishmania sp infection had negative impact on children's nutritional status.
Leishmaniasis; Nutritional status; Food intake recall
