ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite a reduction in the magnitude of endemic malaria reported in recent years, malaria and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) still remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five. The relationship between malaria and malnutrition remains a topic of controversy. We aimed to investigate malaria infection according to nutritional status in a community-based survey. METHODS: A cohort of 790 children aged 6 to 59 months and residing in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was followed-up from April 2009 to March 2010 with monthly visits. Data on nutritional status, morbidity between visits, use of insecticide-treated nets and malaria parasitemia were collected at each visit. The Z scores height for age, weight for age and weight for height were computed using the reference population defined by the WHO in 2006. Thresholds for Z scores were defined at -3 and -2. A binary logistic model of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to quantify the association between PEM indicators and malaria parasitemia. Odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were computed. RESULTS: After adjustment for season, children with severe stunting (height for age Z score<-3) were at lower risk of malaria parasitemia greater or equal to 5000 trophozoits/µL of blood as compared to those in with a better nutritional status (height for age Z score≥-2) (OR=0.48, 95% CI: 0.25-0.91). CONCLUSION: Severely stunted children are at a lower risk of high-level malaria parasitemia.
Subject(s)
Malaria/complications , Nutritional Status , Age Factors , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Body Height , Body Temperature , Body Weight , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Female , Fever/parasitology , Follow-Up Studies , Growth Disorders/parasitology , Humans , Infant , Insecticide-Treated Bednets/statistics & numerical data , Male , Malnutrition/parasitology , Parasitemia/blood , Seasons , Sex Factors , Trophozoites/pathologyABSTRACT
Contexte : L'etat nutritionnel des enfants est un indicateur mondial de son bien-etre et indirectement celui de sa communaute. Les objectifs de ce travail consistent a evaluer l'etat nutritionnel des enfants ages de moins de cinq ans du quartier Bongonga de Lubumbashi; en RD Congo; et ses determinants. Methodes : Une enquete transversale a ete menee; dans des menages; aupres de 1963 enfants. Outre les variables anthropometriques; les conditions de vie ont egalement ete relevees. Une regression logistique a ete appliquee. Resultats : Les prevalences etaient de 33;5de retard de croissance et 3;8d'emaciation. En regression logistique; le niveau d'etude de la mere (moins de 7 ans); l'absence d'un robinet d'eau potable dans la parcelle; l'age superieur a 11 mois et la duree de sejour de l'enfant dans le quartier inferieure a 3 mois etaient significativement associes a un risque accru de retard de croissance. Le niveau bas d'etude de la mere et l'age de l'enfant (12 mois ou plus) etaient significativement associes du retard de croissance severe. Par ailleurs; l'anorexie; la diarrhee; la souffrance et l'age de l'enfant (moins de 12 mois) etaient les determinants significatifs d'une emaciation. Conclusion : Comparee a la classification de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Sante; la prevalence du retard de croissance est elevee et celle de l'emaciation basse. Afin de reduire la mortalite; la morbidite et contribuer au bien-etre de la population; il faut integrer ces facteurs dans toute intervention
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Failure to ThriveABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of spiruline on nutritional rehabilitation. DATA SOURCES: Systematic search in medical and scientific databases (Medline, Cochrane, Embase) and other specific databases (PhD theses, reports...). METHODS: We selected studies in which spiruline was used as supplementation in malnourished patients, irrespective of the form and dose of spiruline and in controlled trials or not. Two persons made the selection separately. Nutritional status was estimated by anthropometric and biological measures. RESULTS: Thirty-one references were identified and seven studies were retained for this review; three randomized controlled and four non-controlled trials. Spiruline had a positive impact on weight in all studies. In non-controlled trials, the other parameters: arm circumference, height, albumin, prealbumin, protein and hemoglobin improved after spiruline supplementation. For these studies, methodology was the main drawback. None of the studies retained for analysis were double-blinded clinical trials and all involved small samples. Four of them did not have a control group for comparison. CONCLUSION: The impact of spiruline was positive for most of the considered variables. However, the studies taken into account in this review are of poor-methodological quality. A randomized, a large-sized double-blind controlled clinical trial with a longer follow-up should be conducted to improve current knowledge on the potential impact of spiruline on nutritional rehabilitation.
Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements , Malnutrition/rehabilitation , Spirulina , Adolescent , Body Weight , Child , Child, Preschool , Clinical Trials as Topic , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Nutritional Status , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Time FactorsABSTRACT
In the Kivu region located in east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, malnutrition and malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The relationship between malaria and malnutrition is unclear and has never been studied in the Kivu region. This report presents an analysis of data from 5695 children aged 0 to 5 years, admitted to the paediatric ward of Lwiro hospital between November 1992 and February 2004. The weight/age (W/A) index and weight/height (W/H) index expressed with standard deviation in relation to the reference median were calculated (Z score). The association between protein-energetic malnutrition and malaria infection and nutritional indicators was measured based on prevalence ratios determined by univariate analysis and adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) derived using a multivariate model. The prevalence of malaria at the time of admission was 35.8 % (n=5695). The W/A and W/H indexes and serum albumin level were correlated with malaria-related morbidity. Logistic regression showed that high malaria OR was associated with both anthropometric nutritional indicators [WHZ > -2: OR (CI 95 %) 1.7 (1.4-2.2)] [WAZ > -2: OR (CI 95 %) 1.3 (1.1-1.6)] and biological nutritional indicators [serum albumin > or = 23 g/L: OR (CI 95 %) 1.6 (1.2-2.1)]. Our findings indicate that malnourished children at admission have a lower risk of malaria infection.
Subject(s)
Malaria/epidemiology , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/epidemiology , Age Factors , Body Height , Body Weight , Child, Preschool , Democratic Republic of the Congo/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Serum Albumin/analysis , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Dans la region du Kivu a l'Est de la Republique Democratique du Congo; la malnutrition et le paludisme sont responsables d'une morbidite et mortalite importantes. La relation entre paludisme et malnutrition est controversee et cette association n'a; jusqu'a present; pas ete exploree dans cette region du Kivu. Nous avons analyse les donnees de 5695 enfants ages de zero a cinq ans recueillies a l'admission a l'hopital pediatrique de Lwiro entre novembre 1992 et fevrier 2004. Les indices poids pour age (PPA) et poids pour taille (PPT) exprimes en ecart type par rapport a la mediane de reference ont ete calcules (Z score). L'association entre les indicateurs de la malnutrition proteino- energetique et le paludisme a ete mesuree par les rapports de prevalence en analyse univariee et les OR ajustes derives d'un modele de regression logistique. La prevalence du paludisme a l'admission etait de 35;8(n=5695). Les indices PPT et PPA et l'albumine serique etaient associes a la morbidite liee au paludisme. En regression logistique; des OR eleves de paludisme ont ete observes pour des valeurs elevees des indicateurs anthropometriques [Z score PPT - 2: OR (IC a 95) 1;7 (1;4-2;2)] [Z score PPA - 2: OR (IC a 95) 1;3 (1;1-1;6)] et biologiques [albumine serique = 23g/L : OR (IC a 95) 1;6 (1;2-2;1)] de l'etat nutritionnel. Nos analyses mettent en evidence une association inverse entre la malnutrition et la prevalence de l'infection palustre
Subject(s)
Anthropometry , Child , Malaria , Morbidity , Protein-Energy MalnutritionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Management of acute severe malnutrition greatly contributes to the reduction of childhood mortality rate. In developing countries, where malnutrition is common, number of acute severe malnutrition cases exceeds inpatient treatment capacity. Recent success of community-based therapeutic care put back on agenda the management of acute severe malnutrition. We analysed key issues of inpatient management of severe malnutrition to suggest appropriate global approach. METHODS: Data of 1322 malnourished children, admitted in an urban nutritional rehabilitation center, in Burkina Faso, from 1999 to 2003 were analyzed. The nutritional status was assessed using anthropometrics indexes. Association between mortality and variables was measured by relative risks. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox model were used. RESULTS: From the 1322 hospitalized children, 8.5% dropped out. Daily weight gain was 10.18 (+/-7.05) g/kg/d. Among hospitalized malnourished children, 16% died. Patients were at high risk of early death, as 80% of deaths occurred during the first week. The risk of dying was highest among the severely malnourished: weight-for-height<-4 standard deviation (SD), RR=2.55 P<0,001; low MUAC-for-age, RR=2.05 P<0.001. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox model showed that the variables most strongly associated with mortality were weight-for-height and MUAC-for-age. Among children discharged from the nutritional rehabilitation centre, 10.9% had weight-for-height<-3 SD. CONCLUSION: The nutrition rehabilitation centre is confronted with extremely ill children with high risk of death. There is need to support those units for appropriate management of acute severe malnutrition. It is also important to implement community-based therapeutic care for management of children still malnourished at discharge from nutritional rehabilitation centre. These programs will contribute to reduce mortality rate and number of severely malnourished children attending inpatient nutrition rehabilitation centers, by prevention and early management.
Subject(s)
Child Nutrition Disorders/therapy , Infant Nutrition Disorders/therapy , Rehabilitation Centers , Acute Disease , Burkina Faso , Child Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Child Nutrition Disorders/mortality , Child Nutrition Disorders/rehabilitation , Child, Preschool , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Infant Nutrition Disorders/mortality , Infant Nutrition Disorders/rehabilitation , Infant, Newborn , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Length of Stay , Male , Nutritional Status , Proportional Hazards Models , Risk , Time Factors , Urban Population , Weight GainABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the prevention and treatment effectiveness of underweight in less than two years old children admitted in 2001 to community nutrition programme of Mono area in Benin. METHODS: A longitudinal retrospective survey took place in 30 villages chosen at random. It concerned a sample of 1799 children. Inside of those children, during the 2001 year, when they were admitted to the programme, 1545 were without underweight, have had more than one month following visit and about them the underweight effectiveness prevention had been analyzed; the others 111 were underweighted, have had more than one month following visit and about them the underweight treatment had been assessed. The 143 other children have been followed for only one month. The prevention effectiveness had been explored by the evolution of the cumulative incidence of underweight according to the number of following visit and the underweight incidence density. The treatment effectiveness has been analysed by calculating the recovery rate and incidence density. RESULTS: During 2001, there have been observed 10% for the underweight cumulative incidence and 51.4% for the cumulative incidence of underweight recovery. The underweight and recovery incidence density were respectively 14 cases for 1000 persons-months of following and 118 cases for 1000 persons-months of following. The children with serious underweight at their last following visit have had the number of following visits lower than those who were with moderate underweight. The recovery was arrived after two to twelve months. There was a significant increase of underweight prevalence with the increase of following visit number inside the children with a normal weight at their admission into the programme. CONCLUSION: During the 2001 following, the underweight prevention and treatment activities of community nutrition workers have been little effectiveness. The low level of instruction of community nutrition workers, their low level of knowledge of essential community nutrition activities, their multiple tasks and the not used appropriate foods for the treatment of underweight are the possible causes of the poor performance observed.
Subject(s)
Counseling , Thinness/prevention & control , Benin/epidemiology , Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Child Nutrition Disorders/prevention & control , Child, Preschool , Community Health Services , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Nutrition Assessment , Program Evaluation , Retrospective Studies , Thinness/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In vitamin A-deficient populations, children hospitalized with infections and/or malnutrition are at particular risk of developing severe vitamin A (VA) deficiency. High-dose VA supplements are recommended as part of the treatment but results on its effect on recovery from morbidity and on prevention from nosocomial morbidity are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the effect of a single high dose and daily low dose of VA on hospitalized malnourished children's morbidity. DESIGN: We carried out a double-blind, randomized trial in 604 and 610 Senegalese hospitalized children. The first mentioned batch received a high-dose VA supplement (200,000 IU) on admission, the second a daily low-dose VA supplement (5000 IU per day) during hospitalization. Children were followed up until discharged. Data on all-cause morbidity were collected daily. RESULTS: Survival analysis showed that the incidence of respiratory disease was significantly lower in the low-dose group than in the high-dose group, hazard ratios (HR): 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07-0.92. The duration of respiratory infection was also significantly lower in the low-dose group than in the high-dose group (HR of cure: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05-1.89). Duration and incidence of diarrhoea were not significantly different between treatment groups. In children with oedema on admission, mortality was significantly lower in the low-dose group (Adjusted odds ratio: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Daily low dose of VA compared with single high dose significantly reduced duration and incidence of respiratory infection but not of diarrhoea in hospitalized children.
Subject(s)
Child Nutrition Disorders/drug therapy , Hospital Mortality , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/drug therapy , Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy , Vitamin A Deficiency , Vitamin A/administration & dosage , Adolescent , Child , Child Nutrition Disorders/complications , Child Nutrition Disorders/mortality , Child, Preschool , Confidence Intervals , Cross Infection/drug therapy , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/mortality , Diarrhea/drug therapy , Diarrhea/epidemiology , Diarrhea/mortality , Dietary Supplements , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Double-Blind Method , Drug Administration Schedule , Edema/drug therapy , Edema/epidemiology , Edema/mortality , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Morbidity , Odds Ratio , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/complications , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/mortality , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/mortality , Senegal , Survival Analysis , Vitamin A Deficiency/complications , Vitamin A Deficiency/drug therapy , Vitamin A Deficiency/mortalitySubject(s)
Faculty, Medical , Public Health/trends , Belgium , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Humans , Public Health/history , UniversitiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a protein-energetic malnutrition prevention and treatment community program on the nutritional status of 18 to 36-month-old children in the poor communities of the Mono Region in Benin. METHODS: Two cross sectional anthropometric surveys were conducted. The first survey took place in 1998, before the implementation of the program; the second survey was conducted three years later. At each survey, cluster samples proportional to the population size was done; the sizes of the samples were 617 in 1998 and 648 in 2001. The nutritional status of 18 to 36 month-old-children was assessed by z-score of the indexes height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height and the cut-off point of -2 standard deviation was used to identify children who had stunting, wasting or underweight; children with serious stunting, wasting or underweight were identified with the cut-off point of -3 standard deviation. RESULTS: From 1998 to 2001, there was a significant reduction in the prevalence of growth retardation (-13.1%) and underweight (-13.0%). The reductions observed for the three types of protein-energetic malnutrition were more pronounced in the 30 to 36 months age group than in the others age groups. CONCLUSION: Substantial improvement was observed during the three years activities. This improvement cannot be attributed to the program unconditionally, because there was no difference between the nutritional status of participant and non participant children.
Subject(s)
Program Evaluation , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/prevention & control , Benin , Child, Preschool , Community Health Services , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Nutritional Status , Prevalence , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The process of referral between the first and the second level of the health system in the Democratic Republic of Congo is poorly understood. This report intends to study the association between the referral and the hospital perinatal outcomes. METHODS: Delivery outcomes in a retrospective cohort of 1162 women admitted between June 95 and May 96, in two referral hospitals in Kivu were analyzed according to the referral status and the women's characteristics. RESULTS: Forty-three percent (n=492)of women admitted, corresponding to 2.3% of expected pregnant women, were referred. Referred women had higher risks of obstetrical complications (OR=2.0; CI95%: 1.3-3.1) and intervention (OR=1.5; CI95%: 1.0-2.3) and similar risks of low birth weight and perinatal mortality. Women with complications during the antenatal period had a double risk of intervention and perinatal mortality. The risk of obstetrical intervention was lower when women had attended 2 visits (OR=0.5; CI95%: 0.3-0.8); the risk of low birth weight was lowest only for mothers who had attended one visit (OR=0.5; CI95%: 0.3-0.9). Distance > or =90 minutes walking from home to hospital raised the risk of obstetrical complication (OR=1.7; CI95%: 1.1-2.5), the risk of obstetrical intervention (OR=1.5; CI95%: 1.0-2.1), and the risk of perinatal mortality (OR=1.6; CI95%: 1.0-2.7). Late admission raised the risk of perinatal mortality (OR=1.8; CI95%: 1.2-2.9) and lowered the risk of obstetrical complication (OR=0.7; CI95%: 0.5-1.0). Part payment of care was associated with higher risks of low birth weight (OR=1.9; CI95%: 1.3-2.9), perinatal mortality (OR=2.2; CI95%: 1.4-3.5) and obstetrical intervention (OR=2.4; CI95%: 1.7-3.4). CONCLUSION: These results suggest a deficit of referred cases considering that 15% of pregnant women in the area covered by the referral hospitals should have been referred. They confirm the negative influence of economic and geographic constraints on the delivery outcomes. They point out the relevance of making reorganization of the referral system a priority.
Subject(s)
Delivery, Obstetric/statistics & numerical data , Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Birth Weight , Delivery, Obstetric/methods , Democratic Republic of the Congo/epidemiology , Female , Health Care Reform , Health Priorities , Hospitals, District , Hospitals, Rural , Humans , Infant Mortality , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Infant, Newborn , Maternal Mortality , Needs Assessment , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications/therapy , Pregnancy, High-Risk , Retrospective Studies , Risk FactorsSubject(s)
Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Chloroquine/therapeutic use , Malaria, Falciparum/prevention & control , Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/prevention & control , Animals , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Drug Resistance , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Treatment RefusalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is known that malnutrition in childhood interacting with infectious diseases contributes to increase mortality. In Burkina Faso, infectious pathologies and malnutrition are public health problems. We examined the impact of malnutrition status, using the Weight-for-age (WA) index, on mortality of children hospitalized for infectious diseases. METHODS: This retrospective study uses a systematic sample derived from the year 1999 hospital register. In total data of 1573 children from 0 to 59 months were analyzed. The association between mortality and dependent variables was measured by relative risks (RR) in univariate analysis. A logistic regression was realized and attributable risk percent (etiologic fraction among exposed) of death was calculated. RESULTS: The total intra-hospital lethality amounted to 15.3%. Age, diagnosis, type of care recourse and malnutrition (low WA index) on admission were associated to mortality. The logistic regression model confirmed the high risks of deaths for young children (0-11m), children in malnutrition (low WA index) and those with severe malaria. The attributable risk percent of death indicates that, 87% of deaths are statically attributable to severe malnutrition (WA Z-score<=-3) and 64.3% of deaths are statically attributable to moderate malnutrition (WA Z-score]-3, -2]). CONCLUSION: Nutritional status evaluation would allow to select children at risk and reduce mortality by including nutritional intervention in standard treatment of children hospitalized for infectious diseases.
Subject(s)
Child Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Child Nutrition Disorders/mortality , Communicable Diseases/mortality , Hospital Mortality , Infant Mortality , Nutritional Status , Academic Medical Centers , Age Distribution , Analysis of Variance , Burkina Faso/epidemiology , Child , Child Nutrition Disorders/classification , Child Nutrition Disorders/complications , Child, Preschool , Communicable Diseases/complications , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Logistic Models , Male , Nutrition Assessment , Patient Admission , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of community-acquired bacteremia in children admitted to a rural hospital in central Africa and to identify useful diagnostic signs or symptoms. METHODS: On admission, a blood culture was obtained from all children admitted to Children's Hospital of Lwiro between 1989 and 1990. Clinical and biologic signs of infection and nutritional status were recorded. RESULTS: Among the 779 children included in the study, 15.9% were bacteremic on admission. The rate of bacteremia was the highest among children with jaundice (20/56; 35.7%) and fever (119/487; 24.4%). In contrast, children with severe malnutrition had a lower rate of bacteremia (13.2%) than weight growth retarded or well-nourished children (19.5%) (P = 0.046). Fever was the most useful diagnostic criteria (sensitivity and negative predictive value of 96.0% and 97.8%, respectively) even in severely malnourished children (sensitivity and negative predictive value of 96.4% and 99.1%, respectively). Enterobacteriacea, mostly Salmonella spp, caused 73% of the bacteremia. There was a high rate of resistance to ampicillin and chloramphenicol among the responsible organisms. Only 31 (47.7%) of 65 bacteremic children responded to the combination of ampicillin and gentamicin. The presence of bacteremia on admission did not significantly increase the risk of morality during hospitalization (19.4% compared with 13.5%; P = 0.088). Age less than 12 months and jaundice were independent risk factors for deaths in bacteremic children. CONCLUSIONS: Community-acquired bacteremia caused by multiresistant Enterobacteriacea is an important problem of hospitalized well-nourished and malnourished children in central Africa. Fever on admission is a sensitive diagnostic sign, even in malnourished children.
Subject(s)
Bacteremia/epidemiology , Bacteremia/microbiology , Community-Acquired Infections/epidemiology , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Hospitalization , Rural Population/statistics & numerical data , Salmonella Infections/epidemiology , Salmonella enterica/isolation & purification , Bacteremia/diagnosis , Bacteremia/drug therapy , Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis , Community-Acquired Infections/drug therapy , Democratic Republic of the Congo/epidemiology , Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification , Enterobacteriaceae Infections/epidemiology , Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology , Female , Hospitals, Rural/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Infant , Logistic Models , Male , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Nutritional Status , Predictive Value of Tests , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of the molar ratio of serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) to transthyretin (TTR) to determine vitamin A (VA) status during infection. DESIGN: We took advantage of previously collected data during a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to conduct a secondary analysis of the RBP/TTR ratio and its relationship to infection and VA status. In this clinical trial, children were randomly assigned to one of three groups and received either one single oral high dose of VA (200 000 IU) on the day of admission and subsequently a placebo daily until discharge or daily oral low doses of VA (5000 IU) from admission until discharge or a placebo daily from admission until discharge. SETTING: Lwiro pediatric hospital, Province of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. SUBJECTS: A total of 900 children aged 0-72 months hospitalised consecutively between March 1994 and March 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: RBP/TTR molar ratio after 7 days hospitalisation. RESULTS: After 7 days hospitalisation, molar RBP:TTR ratio (mean+/-s.d.) of infected children (C-reactive proteins>10 mg/l) was 0.67+/-0.31 in the high-dose group (n=81), 0.74+/-0.44 in the low dose group (n=71) and 0.73+/-0.39 in the placebo group (n=81). These values did not differ significantly (one-way ANOVA P=0.472). In patients with baseline serum retinol concentrations<0.70 micromol/l, changes in RBP:TTR ratio between admission and day 7 were not statistically different in the three groups (one-way ANOVA P=0.548). CONCLUSIONS: In this population of malnourished hospitalised children, molar RBP:TTR ratio does not appear to be useful to assess VA status during infection. SPONSORSHIP: Our research was partially supported by a grant from the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique et Médicale (contract 3.4505.94) and the David and Alice Van Buuren Foundation.
Subject(s)
Infections/blood , Prealbumin/analysis , Retinol-Binding Proteins/analysis , Vitamin A Deficiency/diagnosis , Vitamin A/administration & dosage , Vitamin A/blood , C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Child, Preschool , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Double-Blind Method , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Nutritional Status , Time Factors , Vitamin A/therapeutic use , Vitamin A Deficiency/blood , Vitamin A Deficiency/drug therapyABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Comparison of children's nutritional status in refugee populations with that of local host populations, one year after outbreak refugee crisis in the North Kivu region of Democratic Republic of Congo. DESIGN: Cross sectional surveys. SETTING: Temporary and other settlements, in the town of Goma and surrounding rural areas. SUBJECTS: Anthropometric indicators of nutritional status and presence or absence of oedema were measured among 5121 children aged 6 to 59 months recruited by cluster sampling with probability proportional to size, between June and August 1995. RESULTS: Children in all locations demonstrated a typical pattern of growth deficit relative to international reference. Prevalence of acute malnutrition (wt/ht < -2 Z score) was higher among children in the rural non-refugee populations (3.8 and 5.8%) than among those in the urban non-refugee populations (1.4%) or in the refugee population living in temporary settlements (1.7%). Presence of oedema was scarcely noticed in camps (0.4%) while it was a common observation at least in the most remote rural areas (10.1%). As compared with baseline data collected in 1989, there is evidence that nutritional status was worsening in rural non-refugee populations. CONCLUSIONS: Children living in the main town or in the refugee camps benefited the most from nutritional relief while those in the rural non-refugee areas were ignored. This is a worrying case of inequity in nutritional relief.
Subject(s)
Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Nutritional Status , Nutritional Support/standards , Refugees , Adolescent , Adult , Anthropometry , Child , Cluster Analysis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Democratic Republic of the Congo/epidemiology , Female , Growth Disorders/epidemiology , Humans , Middle Aged , Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Prevalence , Rural HealthABSTRACT
A retrospective cohort study was carried out on a sample of 2625 Belgian's children, examined at 12 and 15 year, to analyze the impact of school visual screening on social inequalities for visual acuity. Although uncorrected visual acuity decreased with increase in social class, visual acuity tested with the child's usual correction increased with social class. This social inequalities became more pronounced 2 years after the school visual screening. The lack of accessibility at some levels of health care cancels the reduction of inequalities expected from the school screening.
Subject(s)
Mass Screening , Social Class , Vision Disorders/diagnosis , Adolescent , Belgium/epidemiology , Child , Cohort Studies , Eyeglasses , Female , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , School Health Services , Social Change , Vision Disorders/epidemiology , Vision Disorders/prevention & control , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify useful predictors of morbidity of young children in central Africa. METHOD: Population-based follow-up study in Northern Kivu, Congo, of 842 children under two years of age who completed weekly follow-up interviews and health examinations during three months. Main outcome measures were crude and adjusted effects of summary measures of nutritional status on one-month cumulative incidence of malaria, respiratory illness, and diarrhoea. RESULTS: Anthropometric indicators appeared to perform badly in predicting morbidity. In contrast, non-anthropometric variables such as growth as judged by the caretaker, child's diet at the time of examination, and occurrence of disease in the month preceding the interval of observation were useful. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the 'Sick Child Initiative', simple tests and diagnostic tools to improve quality of both prevention and cure in first-level facilities need to be identified. Focusing on non-anthropometric indicators should be encouraged to offer a comprehensive appraisal of health status to all children.
Subject(s)
Anthropometry , Morbidity , Nutritional Status , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Democratic Republic of the Congo/epidemiology , Diarrhea/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Malaria/epidemiology , Male , Nutrition Disorders/complications , Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Nutrition Disorders/prevention & control , Nutrition Surveys , Predictive Value of Tests , Prospective Studies , Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology , Risk Assessment , Rural HealthABSTRACT
The effect of high-dose vitamin A supplementation on recovery from morbidity and on recovery from nosocomial morbidity of hospitalized children has been poorly studied and results are conflicting. The effect of daily, low doses has never been assessed. We investigated the effect of a single high dose and daily, low doses of vitamin A on diarrhea, acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs), and all-cause fevers in 900 hospitalized preschool-age children in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The high-dose treatment group received 200,000 IU vitamin A (100,000 IU if aged <12 mo) orally on the day of admission, the low-dose treatment group received 5000 IU vitamin A/d until discharge. Data on all-cause morbidity were collected daily. Mortality rates were not significantly different among the 3 groups. High-dose vitamin A supplementation had no significant effect on the duration of moderate or severe diarrhea nor on the duration and incidence of ALRIs and all-cause fevers. Children in the high-dose group with no edema had an increased risk of severe nosocomial diarrhea (relative risk: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.15, 5.11). Low-dose vitamin A supplementation significantly reduced the incidence of severe diarrhea in severely malnourished children (relative risk: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.62) but showed no significant effect on the duration of moderate or severe diarrhea or on the duration and incidence of ALRIs and all-cause fevers. Supplementation with high doses of vitamin A did not reduce morbidity in this population of malnourished and subclinically vitamin A-deficient children; daily, low doses appeared more beneficial for severely malnourished children.
Subject(s)
Protein-Energy Malnutrition/drug therapy , Vitamin A/administration & dosage , Child , Child, Preschool , Diarrhea/complications , Diarrhea/drug therapy , Double-Blind Method , Edema/complications , Fever/complications , Fever/drug therapy , Hospitalization , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Morbidity , Placebos , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/complications , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/mortality , Respiratory Tract Infections/complications , Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy , Vitamin A/therapeutic use , Vitamin A Deficiency/complicationsABSTRACT
A randomized controlled trial was conducted in eastern Zaire to assess the effects of high dose vitamin A supplementation and regular deparasitation on the growth of 358 moderately malnourished preschool children, discharged from the hospital. The treatment groups received either vitamin A (60 mg of oily solution of retinyl palmitate, 30 mg if aged <12 mo) every 6 mo or mebendazole (500 mg) every 3 mo; the control group received no supplementation. Anthropometric data were gathered at baseline and after 6 and 12 mo of follow-up. Serum retinol concentrations were measured at baseline and after 3 mo. The three groups did not differ in sociodemographic indicators, age and sex composition, nutritional status and serum retinol concentrations at baseline. In children who were vitamin A deficient at baseline, adjusted mean weight and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) increments were higher in the vitamin A-supplemented group than in the control group [annual increment in weight and MUAC in vitamin A vs. control group: 2.088 vs. 1.179 kg (P = 0.029) and 2.24 vs. 0.95 cm (P = 0.012), respectively], whereas growth increment did not differ between the dewormed group and the control group. In children who were not vitamin A deficient at baseline, growth increment did not differ between the vitamin A-supplemented and control groups, whereas weight gain was lower in the dewormed group than in the control group. Vitamin A-supplemented boys gained more weight and height than control boys, whereas vitamin A-supplemented girls gained less height than control girls. Dewormed boys and girls gained less weight than control boys and girls. Programs to improve vitamin A status by high dose vitamin A supplementation may improve growth of preschool children who are vitamin A deficient, whereas deworming does not.
