Resumen

SAN MIGUEL SIMBRON, José Luis. Thymus and the nutritional status in high altitude residents pre-school children. Cuad. - Hosp. Clín. [online]. 2017, vol.58, n.2, pp.20-27. ISSN 1562-6776.

Research Question: Which will be the surface of the thymus obtained by ultrasonography compared with anthropometric measurements in pre-school children in peripheral areas of La Paz city, Bolivia? Objective: To determine the comparation of the surface of the thymus obtained by ultrasonography compared with anthropometric measurements in pre-school children in peripheral areas ofLa Paz city, Bolivia Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional study with analytical component. Methods: A study was conducted in periurban areas of La Paz city, of Bolivia at 3700 meters above sea level. The study included 94 pre-school children from 3 to 6 year's old. A pediatric clinic examination and anthropometric measurements such as weight, length, head circumference, waist and hips circumferences, total arm area, muscular arm area, knee-heel lengths, inferior length; energy consumption was determinatedby indirect colorimetry and thymus ultrasonography. Results: It was found stunting in 20% of pre-school children (Height for age Z-score< -2 SD), and the thymus ultrasonography did not show statistically significant differences in the measurements of thymus size for sex. The 350 mm² size of the surface thymus identify 55% of the immune-compromise in pre-school children, existing statistically significant differences with less kilocalorie/day, at the total arm area, muscular arm area, and inversely with the waist/hips index. The Height for age index Z-score< -1.5 SD presented a statistically significant difference with minor values in immune-compromise pre-school children although with length, weight, inferior length, knee-heel lengths and head circumference. Conclusions: At high altitude environment, low socioeconomic level pre-school children showed immune-compromise by thymus ultrasonography evaluation, most of half presented it. These children have minor levels in the length, inferior length, knee-heel lengths, head circumference which are indicators of linear growth and the energy consumption. The primary prevention of risk factors in the global health of pre-school children is the priority ofthe public health policies in our altitude environment.

Palabras clave : Thymus; ultrasonography; anthropometric; pre-school children; high altitude.

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