Arm muscle and arm fat areas in infantile rickets

ABSTRACT

This study included 60 children with rickets aged 6-24 months and 20 controls of the same age and sex. Weight, height, mid arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness were measured for patients and - controls. Arm muscle area, arm fat area, weight for height and height for age were calculated for each child. The arm muscle and arm fat areas were significantly lower in the rachitic than in the control children. Arm muscle and arm fat areas were significantly lower in advanced than in early rickets. Bottle fed rachitic infants had significantly lower arm muscle area than the breast fed ones. Arm muscle and arm fat areas are more sensitine than the weight for height and the height for age ratios in the assessment of the nutritional status of rachitic children