A prospective study of the effects of clinically severe protein-energy malnutrition on growth.

The effects of severe protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) upon the growth of children was studied in a 13-month cohort. The serial records of 19 PEM children from the cohort were compared to those of cohort children with the same growth history (either failing or non-failing growth), but without severe PEM. When the comparison was made on the basis of age, no differences in growth were found except for arm muscle circumference at one age. Using Z-scores, comparisons were also made according to months before or after the diagnosis of PEM. When compared to children with the same growth history, PEM children showed short-term differences in weight and arm muscle circumference and a mild retardation in growth in length which was not significant. Any growth effects following the episode of severe PEM were accounted for by growth status preceding its onset.