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Growth retardation and undernutrition in children with spastic cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
Reilly John,
Hassan Thoraya,
Braekken Anne,
Jolly John,
Day Ruth
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-277x.1996.00468.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebral palsy , anthropometry , malnutrition , wasting , growth retardation , standard score , spastic , pediatrics , spastic cerebral palsy , malnutrition in children , physical therapy , pregnancy , machine learning , biology , computer science , genetics
Aim: To assess the prevalence of growth retardation and undernutrition in a homogenous group of 30 children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: Standard anthropometric assessment and functional assessment of feeding ability. Results: Growth retardation was common and severe: mean length for age standard deviation score (SDS) was −2.1 (SD 1.0) and 60% of the sample were «stunted». Mean weight for height SDS was +0.2 (SD 0.9) and «wasting» was largely confined to those children identified as having feeding problems. Conclusion: Formal assessment of growth and nutritional status is indicated in children with cerebral palsy, even if health and feeding status would otherwise give little cause for concern.