[Health profile of children cared for in nurseries and the prevention of communication disorders].

For the purpose of characterizing the health of the population assisted by the Nursery Program (Programa Creche) at the three units financed by the city authorities of S. Paulo, Brazil, an enquiry was undertaken. A questionnaire consisting of both open and closed question concerning personal identification, personal antecedents, development and health was prepared and 133 of them were applied. Results indicated that children whose living conditions were unsatisfactory (humid and overcrowded housing) have presented respiratory infections and otitis in greater numbers. Most of the children were breast-fed at first but started being nursed artificially when two months old. Salty and varied texture foods were introduced at the appropriate ages and well accepted. Language delay is related predominantly to ages 3 to 7. Parents act properly lin communication situations. It is considered that the systematic use of the questionnaire proposed will permit not only better knowledge of the health of the children, benefitting the multidisciplinary attendance and integration of the child, as also the improvement of preventive practices and make the surveillance of difficulties in communication possible.