Later growth of malnourished infants and children. Comparison with 'healthy' siblings and parents.

Growth was evaluated in 144 boys and 71 girls hospitalized for malnutrition from 1961 through 1971 at mean ages of 13.1 and 10.7 months, respectively. During the period 1961 through 1966, ex-patients were measured at irregular intervals, while from 1966 through 1976, ex-patients and siblings were measured yearly. Average follow-up was seven years. Female ex-patients were 2.0 cm shorter than boys at 1 year and 7.0 cm taller at 13 years; their better growth was possibly due to earlier hospitalization, more adoptions, and renewed pubertal "catch-up." Ex-patents were compared with siblings at the same age; girls apparently caught up with sisters during puberty and both matched or exceeded maternal heights, while boys lagged behind brothers. Stunting, usually reported after severe infant malnutrition, seems more the result of continued poor environment and diet than of a limited episode of marasmus or kwashiorkor.