Clinical findings in Southeast Asian refugees

Since 1979, we have provided comprehensive medical care to a group of 142 Southeast Asian refugees who relocated in Connecticut. In this group, we identified clinically important issues in child development. As plotted on standard growth curves, 47% of refugee children were below the fifth percentile in height for age and 22% were below the fifth percentile in weight for height. Although these children are potentially at increased risk for nutrition-related health problems, our clinical assessment did not confirm malnutrition. We also confirm a high prevalence of intestinal parasitism (59%), positive tuberculin test results (40%), and hepatitis B antigenemia (16%), as observed previously by health authorities. We conclude that anthropometry should not replace a clinical nutritional assessment of refugee children.