Persistence of soft neurological signs in chronic undernourished children

Abstract

The present study was carried out on 120 (9–12.5 and 15–17.5 years), rural, male, school children of Kashi Vidyapeeth Block of Varanasi District. Out of these 60 children 30 wellnourished and 30 in grade II or III undernutrition (height for age < 90%) were in both the age groups. These children were examined for anthropometry, and soft neurological signs. It was found that soft neurological deficits observed in undernourished children persisted with increase in age i.e. during adolescence. The performance of wellnourished children was significantly better on all the six timed coordination motor tasks as compared with that of the undernourished children in both the age groups. However, significant difference was observed for foot tap (p < 0.01) and finger tap (p < 0.01) in 9–12.5 years and for foot tap, hand pat and finger tap (p < (1.01 for all) in 15–17.5 years respectively. Age and nutrition taken together showed that with age there was an improvement in performance of wellnourished and undernourished children on all the tasks. However, nutrition showed significant independent influence on all the tasks excepting hand pronation supination indicating that the effect of nutrition persisted with the increase in age. Further analysis revealed that undernutrition affects repetitive speed movements more. There was significantly higher percentage of overflow and dysrythmia on all the time coordination motor tasks among undernourished as compared to wellnourished children in both the age groups.