Life isn't fair, but in some underdeveloped countries you'd be surprised at how happy the people are with next to nothing. On my medical mission trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua I witnessed first hand how malnutrition can have a drastic effect on seemingly a quarter out of all the children despite access to food. It wasn't obvious but it became apparent that many of the children in the tropics have sufficient foods but they are mentally underdeveloped, ill-looking, and constantly fatigued. As we examined more and more children we found that many of them had distended stomachs and had worms in their fecal matter. It came to be that many of these children had lived their entire lives with gastrointestinal parasites and never sought out medical attention. I then realized that malnutrition extends further than just establishing global food security. As a result of living with GI parasites during their first years of life children are unknowingly robbed of essential nutrients for proper mental and physical development. Many of these children were permanently mentally disabled. I believe that tackling the bigger problem, establishing food security, is first and formost but in tropical regions where food may be readily accesible there must be efforts to cure the population of GI parasites that will, if not resolved, continue to paralyze children over the generations from malnutrition.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
More to Malnutrition than what meets the eye
Life isn't fair, but in some underdeveloped countries you'd be surprised at how happy the people are with next to nothing. On my medical mission trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua I witnessed first hand how malnutrition can have a drastic effect on seemingly a quarter out of all the children despite access to food. It wasn't obvious but it became apparent that many of the children in the tropics have sufficient foods but they are mentally underdeveloped, ill-looking, and constantly fatigued. As we examined more and more children we found that many of them had distended stomachs and had worms in their fecal matter. It came to be that many of these children had lived their entire lives with gastrointestinal parasites and never sought out medical attention. I then realized that malnutrition extends further than just establishing global food security. As a result of living with GI parasites during their first years of life children are unknowingly robbed of essential nutrients for proper mental and physical development. Many of these children were permanently mentally disabled. I believe that tackling the bigger problem, establishing food security, is first and formost but in tropical regions where food may be readily accesible there must be efforts to cure the population of GI parasites that will, if not resolved, continue to paralyze children over the generations from malnutrition.
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6 comments:
hey jordan, i totally agree. i saw firsthand the effect of GI parasites on kids living along a river in the rainforest in Ecuador. even if they happened to have been treated for parasites, they'd just go back in the river to play and the cycle would continue. those first years of life are so critical to development, and GI parasites are so prevalent in some areas, that i agree w/ you that it really deserves funding & attention, especially when a combo of treatment and educating parents has been proven effective. it's cool to hear about your international experience!
Hey. I definitely agree that parasites are a critical issue that compounds malnutrition and other health problems. I've just read a paper this past week that I'll be presenting in PM 566: "Emerging and Reemerging Helminthiases and the Public Health of China" by Hotez, et al. It delineates the implementation of several control programs, including reinfection prevention. Some of these programs included draining rivers and ditches as well as vaccinations. Going back to the malaria discussion we had, we need to implement environmental controls including the possible elimination of vectors.
Hey. Your right malnutrition is a multi-factorial problem and one that will take many different collaboraters to rectify. It is unimaginable living with meager food supplies but even more inconeivable to think about mental illness in relation to malnutrition.
Hi Jordan,
You bring up a great point with regards to parasites. I saw this problem on a recent medical brigade to rural Honduras. Food security will not solve the problem of malntrition in communities that lack clean water and end up with chronic parasite problems.
Hi Jordan,
Nice post! I recommend taking a parasitology class sometime in your career. The diseases are fascinating and you really do develop a global perspective. I also have to comment that I've seen a lot of worm parasites in the US too!
You provide a very thoughtful and insightful example of how people in developing nations seem to be so much more grateful for health care that is so inadequate. It seems as though they don't know what their health potential is... so they are only grateful that it is not as bad as it could be.
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