[Ocular manifestations in patients who had malnutrition in the first six months of life].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate possible ophthalmologic alterations in patients who had severe malnutrition during the first six months of life.


METHODS
182 eyes of 91, 2 to 11-year-old, children who had had severe malnutrition during the first six months of life (study group) were analyzed. As a control group 88 children selected according to similar characteristics of age, gender, demographic and economic conditions were included.


RESULTS
In the study group, a higher frequency of children with visual acuity from 0.3 to 0.1 and less than 0.1 (11.5% versus 0.7% - p< 0.0001) was observed. There was a higher frequency of astigmatism and myopia in the study group. A higher frequency of astigmatism of one diopter or more in the study group (p< 0.0001) was also observed. The fundoscopic alterations were pale optic nerve (2.2%), increased disc cup (4.4%), increased vascular tortuosity (6.6%), alteration of retina color (13.2%) and retinal pigment epithelium cell atrophy (12.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
The present data support the concept that early malnutrition interferes in the individual's visual health. Further studies are necessary to establish a more precise cause-effect relationship.
Dantas
Alessandra Pereira
AP
Fundação Altino Ventura, Rua da Soledade 170, CEP 50070-040 Recife, PE. fav@fundacaoaltinoventura.org.br
Brandt
Carlos Teixeira
CT
Leal
Daena Nascimento Barros
DN
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology