A standardized questionnaire was administered to the mothers of these children to assess recent diarrheal illness, breastfeeding status, symptoms of night blindness, history of recent food assistance, and family structure. Thirty-eight percent of the children surveyed had had at least one diarrheal episode in the previous 2 weeks. This assessment of health and nutritional status may not accurately estimate the prevalence and severity of undernutrition among all children in the drought-affected areas because the surveyors were unable to sample the populations in the areas inaccessible because of floodwaters or impassable roads. Officials in the government and from voluntary organizations had reported many of the more remote, inaccessible sites to be more severely affected by the drought. Recommendations resulting from the survey emphasized early provision of food, including adequate calories and protein to prevent further nutritional deterioration.
Vitamin deficiencies are also of concern.
Vitamin A deficiency is the major cause of permanent blindness in preschool-aged children in the developing world and is easily prevented by vitamin A supplementation. A and C. References National Center for Health Statistics. NCHS growth curves for children, birth-18 years, United States. DHEW publication no. World Health Organization.