EFFECTS OF EARLY DISEASE ON LATER GROWTH, AND EARLY GROWTH ON LATER DISEASE, IN KHARTOUM INFANTS

Longitudinal data of monthly length and weight measurements, and fortn ightly infectious disease records of 167 infants in Khartoum townships , have been examined to determine: (1) whether disease experience in t he first 6 months of life is related to growth in the second 6 months and (2) whether growth in the first period is related to disease exper ience in the second. Using regression techniques to allow for disease measure correlations in the two periods and other environmental factor s that are associated with growth and disease, it is concluded that bo th length and especially weight growth are affected adversely by previ ous illness. On the other hand there is almost no evidence that early growth is associated with later disease susceptibility.