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Flugmedizin · Tropenmedizin · Reisemedizin - FTR 2009; 16(4): 179-183
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1244985
Tropenmedizin

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Körperliche und mentale Kindesentwicklung in tropischen Ländern – Infektionskrankheiten und andere Risiken

Physical and mental development of children in the tropics – Infectious diseases and other risksCarola Bindt1 , Stephan Ehrhardt2
  • 1Zentrum für Geburtshilfe, Kinder– und Jugendmedizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder– und Jugendpsychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg–Eppendorf (Klinikdirektor: Prof. Dr. Michael Schulte–Markwort)
  • 2Klinische Forschung, Bernhard Nocht Institut für Tropenmedizin, Hamburg (Leitung: Prof. Dr. Gerd–Dieter Burchard)
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Publication History

Publication Date:
18 December 2009 (online)

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Neben den infektiösen haben auch alimentäre und psychosoziale Faktoren Einfluss auf die frühkindliche Gesundheit und mentale Entwicklung im tropischen Afrika. Infektionen mit intestinalen Helminthen und Protozoen, mit Bakterien wie Helicobacter pylori, mit HIV und Tuberkulose sowie Malaria gehören zu den größten Gefahren für eine normale Kindesentwicklung. Auch ein mangelhafter Ernährungszustand, assoziiert mit verzögertem Wachstum, Iod– und Eisenmangel, beeinflusst die physische und geistige Entwicklung negativ. Daneben können sich auch die schwierigen sozialen und ökonomischen Lebensumstände in Entwicklungsländern und die hohe psychische Belastung der Eltern negativ auf die Kindesentwicklung auswirken. All dies hat letztlich auch nicht absehbare Folgen auf den wirtschaftlichen, sozialen und kulturellen Fortschritt in diesen Ländern. Longitudinale Studien mit multivariaten statistischen Auswertungen sind notwendig, um die komplexen Determinanten der kognitiven, emotionalen und sozialen Entwicklung von Kindern genauer zu erforschen.

In tropical Africa, health and mental development of infants are affected not only by infections but also by nutritional and psychosocial factors already at a very early age. Among the greatest perils are infections with intestinal helminths and protozoa, with bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori, with HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, greatly endangering child development in the tropics. Their physical and mental development is also hampered by undernourishment associated with retarded growth; additional negative factors are insufficient iodine and iron levels. There are also other influences on child development, such as the social and economic conditions in developing countries and parental stress. These factors also exercise unforeseeable influences on economic, social and cultural changes in these countries. Longitudinal studies with multivariate statistical analyses are imperative to explore the complex determinants governing the cognitive, emotional and social factors of child development.

Key words

child development - physical - mental - infectious diseases - nutritional status - psychosocial risk factors - developing countries

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Korrespondenz

Dr. Stephan Ehrhardt

Bernhard Nocht Institut für Tropenmedizin Klinische Forschung

Bernhard Nocht Str. 74

20359 Hamburg

Email: ehrhardt@bni-hamburg.de