Oyedeji G A, Olamijulo S K, Osinaike A I, Esimai V C, Odunusi E O, Aladekomo T A
Department of Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
East Afr Med J. 1995 Aug;72(8):523-6.
Seven hundred and three Nigerian village children in their first six years of life were subjected to anthropometric measurements and physical examination in early 1988. The heights of 66.9% and weights of 60.5% of them fell below the third percentile of a Nigerian equivalent for international reference population standard. Mid upper arm circumference values indicated moderate to severe malnutrition in over 25% of all 1-5 year old children surveyed. Fever, cough, headache and diarrhoea were the commonest symptoms encountered in the children. Mild pallor of the conjunctival mucosa and physical signs of protein energy malnutrition were commonly seen. Fungal and septic skin lesions were present in 11.45 and 11.1% of the children respectively, whilst rhinorrhoea was seen in 4.7%, otitis media in 6% and pharyngotonsillitis in 3.3%. Thirty four (4.8%) of the children had haemic whereas five had pathological murmurs. Dental calculi were present in 15.8%, umbilical herniae in 18.2%, hepatomegaly in 48.2% and splenomegaly in 23% of the children. Seven (1%) had cerebral palsy. The implication is that malnutrition, sickle cell disease, malaria and other infections are the prevailing causes of morbidity in the preschool aged children surveyed. Desirable improvements include upgrading socio-economic and living conditions and instituting appropriate control measures.
1988年初，对703名年龄在6岁以下的尼日利亚乡村儿童进行了人体测量和体格检查。他们中66.9%的身高和60.5%的体重低于尼日利亚参照国际参考人群标准的第三百分位数。在所有接受调查的1至5岁儿童中，超过25%的儿童上臂中部周长值表明存在中度至重度营养不良。发热、咳嗽、头痛和腹泻是这些儿童最常见的症状。结膜黏膜轻度苍白和蛋白质能量营养不良的体征很常见。分别有11.45%和11.1%的儿童出现真菌性和脓毒性皮肤病变，4.7%的儿童出现流涕，6%的儿童出现中耳炎，3.3%的儿童出现咽扁桃体炎。34名（4.8%）儿童有贫血，5名儿童有病理杂音。15.8%的儿童有牙结石，18.2%的儿童有脐疝，48.2%的儿童有肝肿大，23%的儿童有脾肿大。7名（1%）儿童患有脑瘫。这意味着营养不良、镰状细胞病、疟疾和其他感染是接受调查的学龄前儿童发病的主要原因。理想的改善措施包括提高社会经济和生活条件并采取适当的控制措施。
