Environmental factors affecting nutrition and growth

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies in tropical and subtropical regions highlighted the interaction between malnutrition and infectious disease and its contribution to determining morbidity and mortality in developing countries. There is no doubt that infectious diseases cause physiologic and biochemical alterations leading to malnutrition; on the other hand, a deficient nutritional status worsens the outcome of infection (1). However, the argument persists as to whether concurrent infections or deficient diets are the main contributors to the malnutrition, growth retardation, and premature death so commonly observed among children in impoverished societies. Observations in Africa (3) and Costa Rica (4) indicated that poor child rearing practices, familial stress, and child abuse and neglect are important components in the multifactorial etiology of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). A better understanding of the etiology of malnutrition and growth retardation" of children in the tropics is fundamental for establishing priorities and policies aimed at prevention and control of infection and malnutrition.