Impact of infection on the growth of children from 0 to 2 years in an urban West African community.

To determine the relationship between growth and morbidity in the first 2 y of life, we studied a cohort of 126 newborns in a Gambian township. Mean weight-for-age exceeded the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) standards in the first half of infancy but there was a mean deficit of 1.2 kg by age 1 y. Only two diseases contributed significantly to weight faltering: diarrheal diseases were estimated to cause one-half of the deficit and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) one-quarter. LRTI reduced weight gain in young children by 14.7 g/d of infection and diarrheal diseases in weaning infants by 14.4 g/d. Diarrhea had no significant impact on the growth of exclusively breast-fed infants. Growth velocity was normal in the second year of life, despite continuing infections.