Nutritional factors associated with rheumatic fever.
The determinants for a child with group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal throat infection (BHS infection) to develop rheumatic fever (RF) remain unclear. In this case-control study, we deal with BHS infected children to examine whether nutritional factors are related to RF. In a RF hospital in Dhaka (Bangladesh) we examined 218 consecutive out-patients who had antecedent BHS infection. Sixty of them met the updated Jones criteria for RF (cases) while 104 did not (controls). Fifty-four possible RF patients were excluded. We used anthropometric measurements and a food frequency questionnaire to assess nutritional factors. Higher risk of RF was observed for low height for age (odds ratio 3.82, 95% confidence interval 1.73-8.42); low weight for age (2.41, 1.12-5.57); low upper arm circumference for age (3.76, 1.87-7.89); and low consumption of eggs (3.81, 1.95-7.63), milk (2.60, 1.36-5.08), chicken (2.62, 1.35-5.21), pulses (1.98, 1.03-3.84), fruits 2.29, 1.20-4.45), and ruti (home-made bread) (3.15, 1.61-6.34). Reduced risk was observed for soybean oil consumption (0.28, 0.12-0.62). The significant association of upper arm circumference and eggs persisted after adjustment for multiple sociodemographic confounders. The association of ruti and soybean oil appeared to be suggestive (0.05 < p < 0.1). Protein-energy malnutrition is likely to be associated with RF. The protective effect of moderate consumption of eggs and soybean oil may support other published work which suggests that the anti-inflammatory substance present in these food items may prevent maturation of the rheumatic process.
Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
M M
MM
Zaman
N
N
Yoshiike
A H
AH
Chowdhury
T
T
Nakayama
T
T
Yokoyama
G M
GM
Faruque
M A
MA
Rouf
S
S
Haque
H
H
Tanaka
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001459:Bangladesh; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications*; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires