Identification of factors affecting infant growth in developing countries

SUMMARY The anthropometric progress of seven infants was followed throughout their first year of life. Weight, length, mid upper arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were measured on a mean (SD) of 30 (6) occasions with weight alone being measured on a further 6 (2) occasions. The effects of infection and energy intake were identified and illustrated using both standard deviation (SD) score graphs for individual subjects, and more traditionally, regression analysis for the group. Diarrhoea and vomiting, pneumonia, and diarrhoea alone each resulted in significant reductions in growth velocity of 30 g/day. Multi-measurement SD score graphs showed the effects of all illnesses, and permitted simultaneous comparison of anthropometric measurements. The effect of acute infection on growth has been widely studied, predominantly in third world coun-tries. In Mexico ' and Guatemala2 the infective causes of weight loss were diarrhoea, dysentery, and bronchopneumonia. In rural Gambia they were gastroenteritis and malaria,3 4 and in Uganda the