A Pilot Search for Environmental Factors Influencing Diarrheal Disease in Young Children in Panama

A pilot survey of 13 family interviews and 70 record reviews from 3 different health facilities in Panama showed that the nutritional state of the population at risk is a vital epidemiologic factor in acute diarrheal disease. Panamas malnutrition problem is reflected by the fact that majority of the children can be diagnosed as malnourished on the criteria of low weight and low hemoglobin. In addition diarrhea and other illnesses appear as chronic health problems. Type of antibiotics prescribed and method of food preparation were implicated in the spread of th disease. Recommendations for more extensive study of diarrhea includes the following: 1) collection of data on normal newborns and follow up for at least 6 months to 1 year; 2) collection of data relating to nutritional parameters (eg hemoglobin weight height and sugar intolerance) to determine extent of malnutrition as to specific type of diarrhea; 3) collection and analysis of samples of water cereals and milk in the home to see if they serve as reservoirs for pathogens or massive doses of organisms normally not pathogenic; 4) collection and analysis of stools for pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms; and 6) enlarging personal interviews used in previous Panama study by including additional external environmental information.