[Severe protein-calorie malnutrition in the infant]

In fifty infants with early and severe protein-calorie malnutrition, an essentially ambulatory treatment was pursued by a multiprofessional health group from the South-western Area of Santiago attaining nutritional recovery in all of them. The investigation only included malnourished children of primary etiology (low feeding). Babies with birth weight of or under 2,500 g. were excluded. Among them 26, were malnourished of 2nd degree and 24 were 3rd degree malnourished. The following period of these patients was 22 months. Once the nutritional improvement was achieved, the follow-up was continued for 12 months. The last control showed that only 3 infants relapsed in their malnutrition, but in a lower degree. Most of the group was in the same or in a better nutritional state. The socioeconomical status of these infants at the beginning of the study was very poor. A short period of breast feeding was confirmed together with poor conditions of formula preparation and none or low alimentary education in most of the group of mothers. The measurements of these infants at the onset and when they recovered and were discharged are reported including weight for age, length for age and weight for length.