Community Nutrition

COMMUNITY NUTRITION 3 (1+2)

Lesson 4 : Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status

Interpretations of signs in relation to Nutrient deficiencies

Because of lack of specificity of the signs, the interpretation of clinical signs can be best made by using a “grouping of signs” which have been commonly found to form a pattern associated with the deficiency of a particular nutrient.

More often, however, survey work based on clinical signs, even with the grouping suggested, is best supported and confirmed by

1. Appropriate anthropometric measurements.
2. Selected biochemical tests
3. Investigation of the local diet, preferably by food consumption surveys considered in relation to local ecological circumstances.

Each of these methods is imperfect and incomplete when it is used together in carefully planned and locally relevant combinations, they can give best results.