Assessment of Nutritional Deficiency of the Sekmai Children, Manipur (Clinical Aspect)

Abstract

Nutritional status of the Sekmai children belonging to 4+ to 10+ has been assessed on the basis of six clinical symptoms associated with nutritional depletion. The sample comprises 360 boys and 371 girls. Assessment based on hair luster, quantity and texture reveals protein deficiency of the Sekmai boys as 8.9 %, 16.1 % and 10.8 % respectively. The frequencies of protein deficient girls on the basis of hair characters are 11.3% (hair luster), 13.2% (hair quantity) and 14.5% (hair texture). Symptom of niacin deficiency assessed by examination of tongue is very low, represented by only 0.2% of the boys and 0.26% girls. Fluoride deficiency as revealed by mottled enamel of teeth, is also low, being shown by 3.87% of the boys on average and 1.61% among the girls. Average frequency of Bitot’s spot on eye, which is an indication of vitamin-A deficiency, among the boys is 0.83% and that of the girls is 0.26%. By and large, nutritional deficiency among the Sekmai children of 4+ to 10+ years cannot be considered as alarming situation.

Keywords: Clinical, PCM, VAD, Niacin, Fluoride

DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/53-01

Publication date:March 31^st 2019