Summary. Information concerning 15037 singleton deliveries in 1970 showed that among the 3.5% where the male head of the household was unemployed there was no significant excess of low birthweight or pre‐term delivery, once social class had been taken into account. There were major differences, however, in maternal health behaviour. In order to ascertain whether the health behaviour might be a consequence of the unemployment, data were also analysed for the 658 pregnancies in women whose husbands, though employed at delivery, were subsequently unemployed. Almost identical patterns were found, implying that the association with health behaviour was not a time‐related consequence of unemployment.
Three hundred and three children with febrile convulsions were identified in a national birth cohort of 13 135 children followed up from birth to the age of 5 years. Breech delivery (p less than 0.05) was the only significantly associated prenatal or perinatal factor. There were no associations with socioeconomic factors. Excluding the 13 known to be neurologically abnormal before their first febrile convulsion, children who had had a febrile convulsion did not differ at age 5 from their peers who had not had febrile convulsions in their behaviour, height, head circumference, or performance in simple intellectual tests.
A survey to assess factors, especially those in the environment, which influence child health and development is shortly to be started within the South West region. This study will start during pregnancy and involve both the mother and her partner as well as the child. Data will be collected on environmental exposures, and psychosocial aspects of the family home. Biological samples will also be kept and stored as a means of identifying pollutants inter alia, and to assess their influence on the fetus/infant. The children will be followed up to the age of 7 when they will receive a full educational, psychological and medical examination. Follow up of the outcome of pregnancy and the development of the child will help identify ways in which the environment influences child health and development.
There is concern regarding the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed and high sugar intakes in children's diets. Regional dietary differences in the British Isles could underlie variations in health outcomes, but little is known about these differences. Our aim was to compare diets of children enrolled in observational birth cohort studies in the Isle of Man (IoM-ELSPAC) and in south-west England (ALSPAC). Dietary intakes were assessed by 3-day food records in IoM and ALSPAC at an age of 7 years. Comparisons of mean daily nutrient, and food and food group intakes were made between the studies and with UK national dietary guidelines. Diets in both regions were adequate for most nutrients except dietary fibre, but in both groups intake of free sugars was three times higher than the UK recommended maximum. There were differences between the two regions, particularly higher energy, protein, and carbohydrate intakes in IoM. IoM children consumed greater amounts of red meat, bread, full-fat milk, and sugar-sweetened drinks. IoM children had higher intakes of energy and some nutrients and food groups than ALSPAC children, and similar low intakes of fruits and vegetables. Children's diets in both regions could be improved, particularly considering the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity and the UK recommendation to lower the intake of free sugars.
Three paediatric pathologists, one perinatal paediatrician, one obstetrician, and one epidemiologist separately used information collected on 239 babies in an attempt to validate the Wigglesworth classification of perinatal deaths. This was first done using clinical data only, then using the combination of clinical and gross necropsy findings and finally using clinical, gross necropsy, histological and any other information (for example, chromosome analyses, microbiological investigations). Only 14 (6%) of deaths changed groups within the Wigglesworth classification when gross necropsy findings were considered as well as clinical findings, and altogether only 21 (9%) changed classification when complete investigations were available. There was an unacceptable amount (15%) of disagreement between the classifiers, largely the result of failure to comply with the rules laid down for classification. We set out amendments to Wigglesworth's original definitions to clarify certain ambiguities.
Summary Background Latex allergy has been highlighted as a problem in children during the last decade based on a number of case series of children with particular problems such as spina bifida. The actual prevalence of latex allergy in the general United Kingdom population is unclear. Objective To estimate the prevalence of childhood latex allergy in the general population. Methods The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children is a geographically based cohort that has been prospectively followed since birth. The children were invited for skin prick testing at 7 years of age. Results Four subjects out of 1877 tested were sensitized to latex. None had a history of clinical reactions to latex. Conclusion This study suggests that the prevalence of latex sensitization and clinical latex allergy in the general childhood population are very low, 0.2% (95% confidence interval 0.1–0.6%) and 0.0% (0–0.2%), respectively.
Summary. Prospectively gathered data from eight geographically defined areas in south‐east Asia included serial measures of blood pressure, proteinuria and oedema during pregnancy. A total of 15 476 pregnancies were included. Both antenatal oedema and proteinuria were markers of increased risk of antenatal diastolic hypertension, proteinuric pre‐eclampsiaand eclampsia. However they identified fetuses at high risk of low birthweight and perinatal mortality only in areas where the incidence of hypertension was low. As a screeningstrategy to identify women who are at increased risk of antenatal diastolic hypertension, of proteinuric pre‐eclampsia and of eclampsia, the most efficient strategy is probably to use the presence of oedema and/or proteinuria. The sensitivity of using this method for identifying women with proteinuric pre‐eclampsia is high, but for identifying eclampsia it is still relatively low. Where resources are available there is probably no substitute for using a sphygmomanometer and measuring blood pressure.
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