EEC ABNORMALITIES, MALNUTRITION, PARASITISM AND GOITER - A STUDY OF SCHOOLCHILDREN IN ECUADOR

We report on data collected in a sample of 194 schoolchildren (9-13 ye ars of age) residing in a mountainous community in Ecuador. This study was part of an ongoing epidemiological inquiry into the prevalence of parasitism, malnutrition, neurocysticercosis, goitre, iodine levels a nd EEG abnormalities, and the relationships among these factors. Data were obtained by a local medical team supported by specialized personn el. The results showed that 34% of the EEG tracings were abnormal, wit h higher rates among girls. The best fitted log-linear model to explai n the results was the combination of EEG status, parasite infection, g oitre and gender. The best predictor of EEG abnormalities was found to be a diagnosis of goitre.