Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Co-morbidities in hospitalized children with severe acute malnutrition

  • Research Brief
  • Published:
Indian Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To study the co morbidities in hospitalized children with severe acute malnourishment.

Methods

104 severe acute malnourished children were included.

Results

54% had diarrhea and 27.8% had acute respiratory tract infections. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 22% of cases (60.8% cases in children 6–12 mo old). Malaria and Measles were diagnosed in 3.8% each, and HIV infection was seen in 2.9% cases. Signs of vitamin B and vitamin A deficiency were seen in 14.4% and 5.8% cases, respectively. Malaria and HIV were not found to be major co morbid conditions.

Conclusions

Timely identification and treatment of various co-morbidities is likely to break undernutrition-disease cycle, and to decrease mortality and improve outcome.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Black RE, Allen LH, Bhutta ZA, Caulfield LE, de Onis M, Ezzati M, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. Lancet. 2008;371:243–260.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Heikens GT. How can we improve the care of severely malnourished children in Africa? PLoS Med. 2007;4: e45.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Heikens GT, Bunn J, Amadi B, Manary M, Chhagan M, Berkley JA, et al. Case management of HIV-infected severely malnourished children: challenges in the area of highest prevalence. Lancet. 2008;371:1305–1307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. World Health Organization. Management of Severe Malnutrition: A Manual for Physicians and Other Senior Health Workers, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bachou H, Tylleskär T, Deogratias H, Mulindwa K, Tumwine JK. Bacteraemia among severely malnourished children infected and uninfected with the Human immunodeficiency virus-1 in Kampala, Uganda. BMC Infect Dis. 2006;6:160.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. De Onis M, Monteiro C, Akré J, Clugston G. The worldwide magnitude of protein-energy malnutrition: An overview from the WHO global database on child growth. Bull World Health Organ. 1993;71:703–712.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bernal C, Velásquez C, Alcaraz G, Botero J. Treatment of severe malnutrition in children: Experience in implementing the world health organization guidelines in turbo, Colombia. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2008;46:322–328.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Talbert A, Thuo N, Karisa J, Chesaro C, Ohuma E, Ignas J, et al. Diarrhoea complicating severe acute malnutrition in Kenyan children: A prospective descriptive study of risk factors and outcome. PLoS One. 2012; 7:1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Irena AH, Mwambazi M, Mulenga V. Diarrhea is a major killer of children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to inpatient set-up in Lusaka, Zambia. Nutrition J. 2011;10:110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Berkowitz FE. Infections in children with severe proteinenergy malnutrition. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1992;11:750–759.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sunguya BF, Koola JI, Atkinson S. Infections associated with severe malnutrition among hospitalised children in East Africa. Tanzania Health Research Bulletin. 2006;8: 189–192.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bhaskaram P. Measles and malnutrition. Indian J Med Res. 1995;102:195–199.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Olaf Müller, Michael Krawinkel. Malnutrition and health in developing countries CMAJ. 2005;173:279–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ejaz MS, Latif N. Stunting and micronutrient deficiencies in malnourished children. J Pak Med Assoc. 2010;60:543–547.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Chainani N, Sharma P, Meena N, Sharma U. Pattern of vitamin deficiencies among the malnourished preschool children in ICDS blocks of Jaipur city. Indian J Matern Child Health. 1994;5:109–111.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. P. Singh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, R., Singh, J., Joshi, K. et al. Co-morbidities in hospitalized children with severe acute malnutrition. Indian Pediatr 51, 125–127 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-014-0343-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-014-0343-x

Keywords

Navigation