Prediction of malnutrition by the ratio of the head circumference to the chest circumference.
This study was carried out in West Bengal, amongst 127 rural children aged 1-5 years. It was found that the ratio of the head circumference to the chest circumference (H:C ratio) was valuable in predicting malnutrition. An increase in the ratio occurred 2-3 months before a drop in weight was noted; a decrease in the ratio was followed 2-3 months later by a gain in weight. Hence, it is felt that this method can be used in field work to forestall malnutrition.
Banerjee
J
J
Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Calcutta, India.
Sengupta
P
P
D002657:Child Development; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011379:Prognosis; D013909:Thorax