Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Nutritional status of children from low-income countries arriving in Spain
Moncef Belhassen-García1,2,3, Virginia Velasco-Tirado1,2,4, Amparo Lopez-Bernus1,2,3
1Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), CAUSA. Hospital Virgen de la Vega 10° planta. Paseo de San Vicente 58-182. 37007. Salamanca.
Background:
Nutritional problems, anaemia and infectious diseases are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents in tropical and subtropical areas. The main objective of this study was to determine the nutritional status in children from low-income countries who migrated to Spain and the value of the usual biochemistry markers of nutrition in these children, as well as to evaluate the nutritional status associated with imported infectious diseases. Moreover, we evaluated the association between anaemia and nutrition problems.
Methods:
We prospectively evaluated immigrants younger than 18 years of age, from tropical or subtropical areas, who were referred on suspicion of or screening for imported diseases. Detailed medical records and physical and oral examinations were obtained. Blood count and biochemical measures of micronutrients and nutritional biomarkers were performed. We included microbiological methods for diagnosing imported infectious diseases according to the region of origin and clinical setting.
Results:
373 minors were evaluated, including 250 (67.0%) from sub-Saharan Africa, 67 (18.0%) from North Africa and 56 (15.0%) from Latin America. The mean BMI of the subjects was 19.8±0.2. BMI increased by 0.02 for each month of stay in Spain. Nineteen patients (6.8%) had a nutritional risk of growth problems, and 50 (17.8%) were overweight. The time since arrival was longer in patients who were overweight (p<0.05). Twenty-one minors (5.7%) had a haemoglobin count less than 11.5 g/dL. Children infected with intestinal helminthiasis had anaemia more frequently than uninfected patients, and children infected with intestinal protozoa had anaemia more frequently than uninfected patients (OR=2.7 I.C 1.1-7.0, p<0.05).
Conclusions:
Immigrant children in Spain have a low prevalence of growth problem, and being overweight is a frequent nutritional issue. A low level of ferritin is the most frequently detected nutritional problem and the main cause of anaemia.
More Related Videos
03:35Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: December 1, 2023
11:29Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Nature and Nurture