EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Including HIV and AIDS

Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Including HIV and AIDS

Answer # 1

1.1

Body Mass Index

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure used to evaluate the weight. BMI is just a rough guide. The calculator of BMI for children helps us to estimate the weight of child. With it, we can easily check whether the child is overweight or underweight. However, the result also depends on other factors such as the proportion of muscle and adipose tissue. Furthermore, the value obtained is not constant but varies depending on age and sex of the child. The calculator child BMI provides approximate BMI for children of 2 to 18 years. BMI for children and teens is calculated differently than for adults. The fat content of the child's body changes as it grows. In addition, the fat content of girls and boys is different as they get older. BMI for children aged 2 to 20 years is calculated using the same formula as for the adults, and then it is compared with typical values of other children of the same age and sex with the appropriate percentile charts developed in 2000 by the National Centre for Health Statistics USA (Wilson, 2003).

Overweight in children has been associated with a number of health problems and is a major concern in public health. Children who are overweight and obese have a higher risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes and hypertension, poor health and emotional problems. The body mass index is the ratio of a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg / m 2). BMI can be interpreted using the classification table based on the Standards of child growth according to the BMI of the World health for children and adolescents 5-17 years. This approach is expected to provide more precise estimates than the previously used methods for estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the child population (Garrett, 2006).

Smoking Prevalence in Children and Youth

Of course, every parent worries about good health for their children, but many are not aware of the hidden dangers of tobacco smoke, which can cause a number of health problems and diseases in young children. Young children are most at risk of developing health problems, since they spend a lot of time with their parents smoked. Tobacco smoke is dangerous. Smoking has serious negative consequences for children. Yet, despite its devastating effects in countries facing urgent issues such as poverty, lack of access to drinking water or infectious diseases, smoking is rarely seen as a priority threat to health. According to current projections, the number of smokers worldwide will reach 1.6 billion people over the next 25 years. Exposure to tobacco is a serious health issue for children around the world. Organizations responsible for the provision of child care have to improve tobacco control interventions (Eduard, 2006).

So it is important that children must understand the dangers of using ...