Assessment of nutritional status of Primary School Children In Eliem Village in Sharkia Governorate

Childhood occupies a crucial position in the life of human beings. This period is characterized by an exceptionally rapid rate of growth. The peak rates of growth exceeded during the fetal life and early infancyNutritional status affects every pediatric patient¢s response to illness. Good nutrition is important for achieving normal growth and development. Nutritional assessment should be an integral part of the care for every pediatric patient. Components of complete nutritional assessment include medical history, dietary history, clinical examination, anthropometrics ( weight, length or height, head circumference, mid upper arm circumference ”MUAC” and triceps skin fold thickness) and biochemical testsAnthropometrics can be sensitive indicators of health, growth and development in infants and children. Anthropometry is the single most universally applicable inexpensive and non-invasive method available to assess the size, proportion and composition of human bodyMalnutrition which refers to an impairment of health either from deficiency or excess or imbalance of nutrients has a public health significance among children all over the world The reasons for the increase in malnutrition among young children require further investigation, including an examination of the quality of the anthropometric data. However, one factor which may in part be responsible for the increase in malnutrition was the abrupt disruption in the supplies of poultry and eggs that followed the culling of millions of chicken and other poultry in response to the avian influenza outbreak that Egypt experienced since 2006. It was found that the culling had a significant and sustained impact on household consumption of poultry and eggs, especially young children and also put considerable strain on household financial resources since poultry sales accounted for nearly half of the incomes of many Egyptian households Generally, the nutritional status of town children is better than that of rural children and signs of deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals components are found in low percent of the former children depending on social class and education of parents.