Clinical examination is an important practical method for assessing the nutritional status of community. The method is based on examination for changes, believed to be related to inadequate nutrition that can be seen or felt in superficial epithelial tissues especially skin, eyes, hair, buccal mucosa in organs near the surface of the body such as parotids and thyroid glands.
When two or more clinical signs characteristic of a deficiency disease, are present simultaneously, their diagnostic significance is greatly enhanced.
Advantages
Inexpensive
Easy and quick method
Invasive
Disadvantages
Lack of specificity of clinical signs to a particular nutrient.
Last modified: Wednesday, 30 November 2011, 9:26 AM
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