02470nam a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653003500055653002700090653000900117653002000126653002900146653003600175653002300211653002200234100001200256700001400268700001000282700001800292700001200310700002300322245017900345520166700524022001302191       2017                            d  bElsevier10aSoil-transmitted helminthiasis10aPrevention and control10aNTDs10aNeuropsychology10aNeurological development10aInfectious disease epidemiology10aCognitive function10aChild Development1 aOwada K1 aNielsen M1 aLau C1 aClements AC A1 aYakob L1 aSoares Magalhaes R00aAdvances in parasitology measuring the effect of soil-transmitted helminth Infections on cognitive function in children: Systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence.3 a<p>Recently the role of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in children's cognitive developmental impairment has been under scrutiny. We conducted a systematic review of the evidence for associations between STH infections and cognitive function of children using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol. We aimed to identify the domains of cognitive function in three age strata (&lt;24&nbsp;months, 24–59&nbsp;months&nbsp;and ≥60&nbsp;months)&nbsp;and critically appraise the general design protocol of the studies, with a focus on the cognitive function measurement tools used. A total of 42 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria, including 10 studies from a recent Cochrane review. Our findings demonstrate variation in tested domains, lack of consistency in the use of measurement tools&nbsp;and analysis of results. Cognitive function measures in children aged under 59&nbsp;months have been mainly limited to domains of gross motor, fine motor and language skills, whereas in children aged 60&nbsp;months and above most studies tested domains such as memory and processing speed. Even within the same age group the results on the association between STH infections and measures of cognitive development were often conflicting. The current study highlights the need for methodological consensus in the use of measurement tools and data analysis protocols if the effect of STH infections on cognitive function domains in children is to be correctly established. This will be an imperative next step to generate conclusive evidence of the role of STH infections in cognitive development in children.</p>
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