Pathways leading to early growth faltering: an investigation into the importance of mucosal damage and immunostimulation in different socio-economic groups in Nepal.

Early childhood growth retardation persists in developing countries despite decades of nutritional interventions. Adequate food is necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure normal growth where there is ubiquitous exposure to infection. Pathways associated with infection, small intestinal mucosal damage and chronic immunostimulation remain largely undemonstrated in countries other than The Gambia.