Famine and Infection in War-Time

Abstract: The belief that nutrition has an effect upon susceptibility and resistance to infection seems logical and reasonable. The recorded history of mankinds demonstrates repeatedly the close association between war, famine and infection. Unfortunately, however, it must be admitted that the factual evidence supporting a causal relationship between poor diets and susceptibility to infectious diseases is far from satisfactory. However, there is no doubt that malnourished soldiers in war conditions often have a low resistance to an infection once it is established. Before considering these problems a brief summary of the defenses of the body against infection is given. Key words: Famine, infection, war-time There are four main lines of defence against infection. General systemic responses: The body often reacts to The skin and mucous membranes are the natural infection by developing fever. barriers that restrict the entrance of organisms into the The raised temperature indicates an increase of tissues of the body. They include the skin, the cornea of metabolic activity and may sometimes, in itself, create the eye and the epithelial linings of the respiratory, an environment unfavourable to the invading organisms gastrointestinal and genito-urinary traces. The integrity (Davidson and Passmore, 1963). of these barriers naturally depends on the maintenance An overview of the nutrition-immune respons