Pediatric malnutrition is an enormous health issue all around the world and its distribution is different in distinct areas of a country. This study has been designed to report the anthropometric status and some socio-economic factors among 2–5 years old children from Golestan province of Iran to show a better view of pediatric health status and better planning for future actions. This study was carried out by clustered-randomized sampling method on 1,382 of 2–5 years old children in urban and rural areas of Golestan province. Anthropometric measurements were performed and World Health Organization child growth standards were used for further analyses. The prevalence of stunting in boys and girls were 7.4% and 7.5% in urban and 4.1% and 5.4% in rural areas. The prevalence of underweight in boys and girls were 6.9% and 4.7% in urban and 5.7% and 4.4% in rural areas. The prevalence of subjects being at risk for overweight were 17.8% and 11.7% in boys and girls, respectively, in urban areas and were 11.1% and 9.2% in rural areas, respectively. There was a marginally significant difference between urban boys and girls in terms of weight status (p = 0.067). In this study remarkably high prevalence of malnutrition, especially a high dominance of overweight, was reported in Golestan province of Iran. Follow-up investigation to identify the cause of malnutrition and to establish public health policies are needed to revise these health issues in Golestan province of Iran.
Anthropometry ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Disorders ; Humans ; Iran ; Malnutrition ; Methods ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Thinness ; World Health Organization

Malnutrition is one of the most important health issues in developing countries, which might have adverse effects on the physical and intellectual health of children. The search process was started to find Persian and English articles published until September 2017 regarding the prevalence of malnutrition in children under the age of six in Iran using national and international databases including SID, Magiran, Irandoc, IranMedex, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science. The data were analyzed using meta-analysis methods and the random effects model. The heterogeneity of studies was analyzed using the I² index. The data were analyzed using R and STATA software (ver. 11.2). Twenty seven articles conducted from 2002 to 2016 were collected to be included in the meta-analysis process. The total sample size was 161,941 patients in an age range of 0-6 years. The final estimate of the prevalence of different forms of malnutrition through meta-analysis of data extracted from studies in Iran was as follows: severe underweight (1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1–1), moderate underweight (6%; 95% CI, 5–7), mild underweight (25%; 95% CI, 21–28), severe short stature (3%; 95% CI, 2–3), moderate short stature (8%; 95% CI, 6–9), mild short stature (21%; 95% CI, 17–24), severe slimness (1%; 95% CI, 1–1), moderate slimness (5%; 95% CI, 4–5) and mild slimness (20%; 95% CI, 17–24). Considering that the prevalence of malnutrition is relatively high in Iran, health authorities should plan to improve the nutritional status of children.
Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; Developing Countries ; Growth Disorders ; Humans ; Iran ; Malnutrition ; Nutritional Status ; Population Characteristics ; Prevalence ; Sample Size ; Sudden Infant Death ; Thinness ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe frequency and quantity of total dairy consumption of Chinese children and adolescents and explore the associations between dairy consumption and nutrition status, including stunting, wasting, overweight, and obesity. METHODS: Participants included 28,250 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) including 100 kinds of food was used to collect information about frequency and quantity of dairy consumption. Determination of stunting was with a height cutoff value for age and gender, and determination for wasting, overweight, and obesity was with BMI for age and gender. RESULTS: Of the total sample, 36.1% of children aged 6-17 reported consuming dairy food more than once per day (⪖ 1/day). The average total dairy intake of all the participants was 126.7 g/day. For boys, dairy consumption had an inverse correlation with stunting and wasting after controlling for confounders. For girls, dairy consumption was negatively associated with stunting and obesity after controlling for confounders as above. CONCLUSION Dairy consumption in Chinese children and adolescents was relatively lower than that in developed countries, and was negatively associated with stunting and wasting for boys and with stunting and obesity for girls.
Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Dairy Products ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Pediatric Obesity ; epidemiology ; Wasting Syndrome ; epidemiology

Thiamine (vitamin B₁) is a water-soluble vitamin that is not endogenously synthesized in humans. It is absorbed by the small intestine, where it is activated. Its active form acts as a coenzyme in many energy pathways. We report a rare case of thiamine deficiency in a 3.5-year old boy with short bowel syndrome secondary to extensive bowel resection due to necrotizing enterocolitis during his neonatal age. The patient was parenteral nutrition-dependent since birth and had suffered from recurrent central catheter-related bloodstream infections. He developed confusion with disorientation and unsteady gait as well as profound strabismus due to bilateral paresis of the abductor muscle. Based on these and a very low thiamine level he was diagnosed and treated for Wernicke encephalopathy due to incomplete thiamine acquisition despite adequate administration. He fully recovered after thiamine administration. After 1999 eight more cases have been reported in the PubMed mostly of iatrogenic origin.
Child ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Male ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Paresis ; Parturition ; Short Bowel Syndrome ; Strabismus ; Thiamine Deficiency ; Thiamine ; Vitamins ; Wernicke Encephalopathy

PURPOSE: Obesity and headache are two highly prevalent diseases both in childhood and adolescent. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of obesity in pediatric headaches patients in a single institution in Korea, and differences according to age, sex, headache type, frequency, intensity, and disability. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 340 subjects (6–18 years of age) who visited the Pediatric Headache Clinic of Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital during the period from January 2015 through March 2018. Data on age, sex, height and weight, as well as headache type, frequency, intensity and disability, were collected. Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile was calculated based on the 2017 Korean Children Adolescence Growth Chart. RESULTS: 17.6% of the pediatric headache patients were obese. The prevalence of obesity in male patients was higher than females (Male 23.8% VS Female 11.6%, P=0.002). There were no significant differences in obesity rate according to age, headache type, frequency, intensity, and disability. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of obesity in the pediatric headache population was 17.6% which is higher than 10.1% in general population (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, KNHANES, 2013).
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Female ; Growth Charts ; Gyeonggi-do ; Headache* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Migraine Disorders ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity* ; Prevalence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tension-Type Headache

INTRODUCTION: In the past decades, the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased worldwide. Childhood obesity has been associated with wide range of serious health complications and increased risk of premature adult illnesses. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) was of concern because of limited data among children. The study aims to determine the prevalence and demographic /clinical factors associated with NAFLD among overweight and obese children.

METHODOLOGY: The study was a cross-sectional study among overweight and obese participants aged 2-18 years old. A total of 96 subjects were included. Frequencies and percentages of clinical characteristics were determined. Chi-square, linear correlation and logistic regression analysis for different factors were performed.

RESULTS: Among the 92 subjects, 26 (28%) were overweight while 66 (72%) were obese. The M:F ratio was 1.8:1 and majority belonged to 6-10 years old (44%). As to socioeconomic class, the rity (59%) were from the low-income group. The overall prevalence of NAFLD among overweight and obese subjects was 29.3%. None of the clinical factors (age, gender, socioeconomic status, BMI, waist circumference, actual caloric intake, and dietary fat consumption) were significantly associated with NAFLD. Analysis of biochemical factors revealed that alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, serum triglycerides and total cholesterol were found to be associated with NAFLD. Among which AST and ALT were identified predictors of NAFLD.

CONCLUSION: There was high prevalence of NAFLD among overweight and obese children. Screening among the pediatric population may aid on early identification and prevent its progression. ALT, AST, serum triglycerides and total cholesterol were independently related wih NAFLD. AST and ALT were identified predictors of NAFLD.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) can cause severe malnutrition. However, relationships between CINV levels, non-pharmacological coping methods, and nutritional status of female cancer patients have rarely been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze their relationships in gynecologic cancer patients. METHODS: Participants receiving a highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy were recruited. The level of CINV was assessed using a numeric rating scale. Coping methods were determined using multiple-choice self-report questionnaires and categorized into seven types for statistical analysis. Nutritional status was evaluated using biochemical and anthropometric parameters. RESULTS: Among all the 485 patients, 200 eligible inpatients were included. Despite the administration of prophylactic antiemetics, 157 patients (78.5%) still experienced CINV, and several used nonmedically recommended coping methods, such as just enduring the symptom or rejecting food intake. A total of 181 patients (90.5%) had nutritional disorders. Although the level of CINV was indirectly related to the occurrence of nutritional disorders, patients who rejected food (β=1.57, p=.023) and did not use physical measures (β= −1.23, p=.041) as coping methods were under the high risk of nutritional disorders. CONCLUSION: Korean gynecologic cancer patients had high levels of CINV and were at high risk of nutritional disorders, which may be related to the use of nonscientific coping methods, possibly due to cultural backgrounds and lack of proper nutritional program. Therefore, developing a culturally appropriate educational program for the cancer patients with CINV is urgently needed.
Antiemetics ; Child ; Drug Therapy ; Eating ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Malnutrition ; Methods* ; Nausea* ; Nutrition Disorders ; Nutritional Status* ; Vomiting*

Maternal and child health is an important issue throughout the world. Given their impact on maternal and child health, nutritional issues need to be carefully addressed. Accordingly, the effect of maternal, child, and nutritional disorders on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) should be calculated. The present study used DALYs to estimate the burden of disease of maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders in the Korean population in 2012. For this purpose, we used claim data of the Korean National Health Insurance Service, DisMod II, and death data of the Statistics Korea and adhered to incidence-based DALY estimation methodology. The total DALYs per 100,000 population were 376 in maternal disorders, 64 in neonatal disorders, and 58 in nutritional deficiencies. The leading causes of DALYs were abortion in maternal disorders, preterm birth complications in neonatal disorders, and iron-deficiency anemia in nutritional deficiencies. Our findings shed light on the considerable burden of maternal, neonatal, and nutritional conditions, emphasizing the need for health care policies that can reduce morbidity and mortality.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Child ; Child Health ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Korea* ; Malnutrition ; Mortality ; National Health Programs ; Nutrition Disorders* ; Premature Birth

This study is part of a 5-year research project on the national burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors in Korea. Using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), a metric introduced by the 1990 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project, we performed a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the magnitude and distribution of both fatal and non-fatal health problems in the Korean population. The concept and general approach were consistent with the original GBD study, with some methodological modifications to make the study more suitable for Korea. We computed DALYs for 313 causes in both sexes and nine age groups using the entire population's medical records and newly generated Korean disability weights. In 2012, the dominant disease burden was non-communicable diseases, which accounted for 85.21% of total DALYs, while injuries accounted for 7.77% and communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders for 7.02%. Of the total DALYs, 88.67% were from years lived with disability and 11.32% were from years of life lost due to premature mortality. Diabetes mellitus was the leading cause of DALYs, followed by low back pain, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, osteoarthritis, motorized vehicle with three or more wheels, and self-harm. The results reported here identify key health challenges and opportunities for future health interventions and policy changes, and provide information that will help assess the major public health issues in Korea, a nation faced with one of the world's most rapidly ageing populations.
Accidental Falls ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fibrosis ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Low Back Pain ; Medical Records ; Mortality, Premature ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nutrition Disorders ; Osteoarthritis ; Public Health ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Weights and Measures

The Government of North Korea with WHO proposed the improvement of healthcare for mothers and children as the second-highest priority for North Korea in 2009. The maternal mortality ratio in North Korea was 76 per 100,000 live birth in 2012, almost seven times higher than that of South Korea. The leading cause of maternal death was postpartum hemorrhage, which accounted for 33 percent of all mothers' deaths. Postpartum hemorrhage is indeed a life-threatening crisis that requires a well-established emergency obstetric care (EmOC) system including safe blood. The rate of children under the age of five with chronic malnutrition stood at 27.9 percent in 2012. Infant malnutrition was more prevalent after the first six months of life, with the rate reaching a peak of 36.8 percent at 24 months of age. The proportion of chronic malnutrition was lowest in Pyongyang, at 19.6 percent, and second-lowest in South Phyongan, at 25.8 percent. On the other hand, the proportion was the highest in the three provinces of Ryanggang, Jagang and South Hamgyong at 39.6 percent, 33.4 percent, and 32.9 percent, respectively. Lack of food security has led to a high prevalence of malnutrition. The mortality rate of children under the age of five was 25 per 1,000 live birth in 2014. Of the North Korean children who die under the age of five, 51 percent died within first four weeks of their birth in 2010. Of these, 40 percent was born low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams at birth), indicating the severity of malnutrition in mothers. Therefore this paper suggests strategies approach to improve the quality of the population for the next generation unified the Korean peninsula for future initiatives. First, we need to develop of strategies and actions for reducing geographical disparity in access to maternal and child health services in North Korea. Second, we have to introduce a 'Mother and Child 1,000-Day Project' to reduce undernutrition among mothers and children in the first 1,000 days of a child's life, from conception to two years old. Third, it is desirable to adopt a policy on access to primary health care to build local governance.
Child Health Services ; Child Health* ; Child* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea* ; Emergencies ; Fertilization ; Food Supply ; Hand ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant Nutrition Disorders ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Malnutrition ; Maternal Death ; Maternal Mortality ; Mortality ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care