Physical growth and neurointegrative performance of survivors of protein–energy malnutrition

Abstract

1.The anthropometric measurements and neurointegrative performance of seventy-nine children aged 6–12 years who had survived kwashiorkor in early childhood were compared to those of 142 children who served as controls.2. For the boys the differences in height and weight between those who had survived protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and the controls were significant (P < 0.01).3. For the girls the differences in height and weight between those who had survived PEM and the controls were not significant.4. In the tests chosen, the performances of the survivors of PEM was significantly poorer than that of the controls.5. There was no improvement in the performance when thirteen survivors were reassessed at 10 years of age.6. There was a significant difference in scholastic performance between the survivors of PEM and the normal controls. The scholastic performance of the siblings of PEM survivors was also significantly better than that of the PEM survivors.7. The dietary intakes at the time of reassessment were unsatisfactory in 25% of the survivors, but did not relate to their scholastic abilities.