Nutrition-related hair signs in Zairian preschool children and associations with anthropometry.
To assess prevalence of hair dyspigmentation, decurling, thinness and frailty, a random sample of more than 4,000 preschoolers, representative for a large area in Northern Zaire, was examined clinically and anthropometrically. Isolated dyspigmentation, isolated thinness and the combination of both were the most frequent signs (> 5%). Prevalence of hair signs did not differ according to sex or season. Peak prevalence was found between ages 6 and 18 months, suggesting a relationship with weaning. Most hair signs, studied separately or as combinations, increased gradually with lowering weight-for-age (WFA) or weight-for-height but not with height-for-age. Isolated dyspigmentation, however, was unrelated to WFA or marasmus. All signs occurred also in children with 'normal' WFA (SD > -2). In these children, hair signs were associated with the presence of clinical muscle wasting.
van den Biggelaar
I
I
Department of Paediatrics, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Van den Broeck
J
J
D017677:Age Distribution; D000886:Anthropometry; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012423:Rural Health; D014886:Weaning