Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
Volume 23, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 193-204

Delayed visual maturation in Karen refugee infants (Article)

McGready R.* , Simpson J.A. , Arunjerdja R. , Golfetto I. , Ghebremeskel K. , Taylor A. , Siemieniuk A. , Mercuri E. , Harper G. , Dubowitz L. , Crawford M. , Nosten F.
  • a Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sot, Thailand, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Dept. of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • b Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sot, Thailand, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Dept. of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • c Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sot, Thailand
  • d Inst. of Brain Chem./Human Nutrition, University of North London, London, United Kingdom
  • e Inst. of Brain Chem./Human Nutrition, University of North London, London, United Kingdom
  • f Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Dept. of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • g Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Dept. of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • h Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College of Science/Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom
  • i Dept. of Tropical Child Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Med., Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • j Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College of Science/Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom
  • k Inst. of Brain Chem./Human Nutrition, University of North London, London, United Kingdom
  • l Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sot, Thailand, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Dept. of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom

Abstract

Thirty-eight babies born to Karen mothers living in camps for displaced persons in north-western Thailand have delayed visual maturation (DVM type 1) that recovers within 6 months. Vitamin A concentrations were deficient in 16% of breast-milk samples from lactating mothers and vitamin B1 concentrations were deficient in 60% of plasma samples. Infantile beriberi was common in this population. The levels of fatty acids in plasma and milk in Karen women were excellent at birth and in the postpartum period. The degree of deficiencies in these vitamins and the concentration of essential fatty acids in cord blood and maternal breast-milk did not correlate significantly with visual impairment in the infants. DVM might be caused by nutritional deficiency or toxic effects during critical periods of gestation that lead to delayed cortical myelination or structural defects which impinge on parietal cortex function.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

blood sampling Eurasia visual impairment refugee Vitamin A Thiamine Deficiency lactation visual acuity thiamine Thailand retinol deficiency vitamin blood level human Refugees Asia infant disease controlled study psychomotor performance correlation function breast milk concentration (parameters) parietal lobe brain function visual information fatty acid blood level myelination Fatty Acids Milk, Human gestation period Humans brain cortex fatty acid baby Adolescent Infant, Newborn Developmental Disabilities Southeast Asia female brain disease Infant retinol newborn visual disorder Vision Disorders clinical article population research child health Article nutritional deficiency nutrition mother adult Age Factors convalescence Fetal Blood childbirth ethnic minority puerperium umbilical cord blood beriberi
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0141849075&doi=10.1179%2f027249303322296510&partnerID=40&md5=3bb70889dfcbb575ef40479614af55c0
DOI: 10.1179/027249303322296510
ISSN: 02724936
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English