Rajkumari Rupabati Devi1, Chingshubam Imobi Singh2
BACKGROUND
Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children
under 5 years of age. Children with severe acute malnutrition have nine times
higher mortality than those in well-nourished children. The purpose of this study
was to describe the demography, clinical profile, and outcome of children with
severe acute malnutrition aged between 6 months to 59 months admitted in
nutrition rehabilitation centre at a tertiary care hospital in North East India.
METHODS
A cross sectional-observational hospital-based study was conducted between May
2019 and April 2020 on 140 children. Severe acute malnutrition was diagnosed as
per WHO criteria by using standard techniques. Variables recorded were
demographic factors, anthropometry, clinical profile, laboratory tests, and medical
complications. The outcome indicators including hospital course were studied.
RESULTS
In the present study 63.6 % were males and the mean age of presentation was
20.0 ± 1.54 months. 57.1 % children were found to be having both weight for
height z-score below – 3 SD and mid upper arm circumference less than 115 mm
together. Acute gastroenteritis (45.2 %) was the most common co-morbid
condition followed by respiratory tract infection (26.2 %). Iron deficiency anaemia
was found in 70.7 % of study children. Recovery rate from severe acute
malnutrition was 86.4 % with average weight gain of 6.4 g / kg / day.
CONCLUSIONS
Children with severe acute malnutrition tend to suffer from serious co-morbid
conditions. Early identification and treatment in nutrition rehabilitation centre with
facility for critical care support should become a key component of continuum of
care for children with severe acute malnutrition.
