Polymorphonuclear Leucocytic Activity In Malnourished Children

Investigations of the immune response have, until recently, thrown little light on the reasons for the increased severity of infections in malnourished children. It has been established that in these children levels of immunoglobulins are at least as high as in well-nourished children, which suggests that there is no defect in the humoral response (Watson and Freesmann, 1970). However, by measuring antibody production it was shown in 12 of 15 children suffering from Kwashiorkor that the injection of typhoid vaccine failed to cause a rise in antibody titre (Budiansky and da Silva, 1957), and a similar observation was made in relation to yellow fever vaccination (Katz and Brown, 1966). It is possible, therefore, that the immunoglobulins of severely malnourished children may not be fully competent and further work to clarify this is indicated.

A CAJM article on malnutrition in children.