Efecto de las infecciones y la dieta sobre el crecimiento del niño: Experiencia en una aldea Guatemalteca

Abstract

A group of children were studied from birth. The study included diet, clinical history, and microbial and parasitic colonies of the intestine. Despite low weight at birth, the growth rate was adequate during the first months of life. Weight loss became apparent after a lapse of 3 to 6 months. Failure to gain weight was related to a progressively deficient diet and to an increase in frequency of infections and infectious diseases. The effect of the infections was established by comparing actual weight increases with anticipated ones, and by correlating the number of days of sickness with weight increase, which proved the relation between infectious diseases and the failure to gain weight

The increase in clinical manifestations and longer duration of episodes, plus the presence of multiple related diseases, suggests a synergic interaction between malnutrition and infection. This hypothesis is borne out by significan correlations found in faulty growth, inadequate diet, and high morbidity

The exact period of time required for nutrition deficiencies, infections, and the interaction of both to produce irreversible damage to the human host could not be established, nor could the magnitude of damage required to induce this state. Studies made in experimental animals (10-12) showed that certain early influences permanently delay growth, even when the animals are subsequently placed in favorable ... (AU)