Malnutrition and concurrent infections. Comparison of two populations with different infection rates

Abstract

Repetitive infections induce malnutrition and growth retardation in children living in impoverished environments, even if food is available. Infection precipitates severe malnutrition in individuals already undernourished. Mechanisms include anorexia, nutrient losses, abnormal synthesis, and diversion from usual metabolic pathways. Infectious diarrheas, malaria, measles, and respiratory infections, all may cause malnutrition, disability, growth retardation, and death. In two different rural populations of Central America, differences in infant nutrition, health, and survival were more related to the infectious environment than to amount and quality of food consumed. Exposure to infection was related to living conditions. Thus, the public health goal should be to raise the quality of life in order to diminish the force of infection. Measures recommended are: improvement of environmental sanitation, exnsion of primary health care (including oral rehydration therapy and immUnoprophylaxis), and promotion of maternal technology (breast-feeding and child-care practice), family planning, and health education. The approach should be holistic.