Malnutrition and Enteric Disease Network (Mal-ED) Case-Control Study in Brazil

The Malnutrition and Enteric Disease Network (Mal-ED) Case-Control Study enrolled children in the age range 6-24 months between 2010 and 2014 in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.The aim of the study was to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of malnutrition. Children were prospectively enrolled cases defined as weight for age Z Score (WAZ) <-2 and age and neighborhood matched controls defined as WAZ>-1.This submission includes genetic and associated phenotypic data on a subset of 336 participants. More information on this project and its related projects can be found here: Studies of diarrheal susceptibility, growth, and development, in pediatric populations in Northeastern Brazil]]>
Inclusion criteria: - 6-24 months of age - Weight for age z Score < -2 for case and > -1 for controls - Mother able to give consent - Healthy child (does not have congenital diseases/severe neonatal disease requiring prolonged hospitalization) Exclusion criteria: - Children who required prolonged hospitalization or had serious health issues, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, neonatal disease, kidney disease, chronic heart failure, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, congenital conditions, or enteropathy (e.g., Crohn's disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, or malabsorption disease) diagnosed by a physician- Parent or primary caregiver with cognitive deficits or who was <16 years of age ]]>
Enrollment in this study occurred between 2010 and 2014. Children between the ages 6-24 months were evaluated to measure anthropometry and feeding practices at enrollment. They were followed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post enrollment. ]]>