Related Experiment Videos
[Nutritional and disease diagnosis in institutionalized children. Day care center Elisio Teixeira Leite, Perus, SP
Insights
A study found 50% of preschool children in a day-care center were malnourished. Early identification of malnutrition in children under 24 months is crucial for recovery and better health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
Context:
- Assessed nutritional status of 111 preschool children in a Perus-SP day-care center.
- Part of a broader health conditions survey in institutionalized children.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the nutritional status of institutionalized preschool children.
- To identify the prevalence and types of malnutrition using Gomez and Waterlow classifications.
Summary:
- 50% of children classified as malnourished (23.4% Grade I, 22.4% Grade II, 4.3% Grade III) using Gomez criteria.
- Waterlow classification revealed a 30.8% prevalence of chronic-malnutrition, primarily in children aged 12-48 months.
- Malnourished children exhibited a higher incidence of respiratory and intestinal infections.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for improved growth monitoring and food consumption follow-up, especially for children under 24 months.
- Emphasizes early malnutrition identification to enhance nutritional recuperation chances.
- Informs public health strategies for institutionalized children's nutritional well-being.
Abstract:
As a part of one survey about health conditions in institutionalized children, the nutritional status were evaluated. Data were obtained through antropometric assessment in a sample of 111 pre-school children matriculated in a small official day-care center in Perus-SP. According to Gomez, 50.0% of all that children were classified as malnourished, 23.4% of them in the I degree; 22.4% in II degree and only 4.3% in III degree. Taking into account the Waterlow's classification there was a highest frequency of cronic-actual malnutrition (30.8%) concentrated in children between 12-48 months of age. Additionally, these children presented highest incidence of infective-respiratory and intestinal diseases. These evidences lead on to the improvement of the follow-up of children growth and food consumption, specially that under 24 meses, to attempt for an early identification of malnutrition, thus increasing the chance of nutritional recuperation.