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Co-morbidities in hospitalized children with severe acute malnutrition

Rakesh Kumar1, Jyoti Singh, Karan Joshi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics ,Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Shyam Shah Medical College, APS University, Rewa, MP. India. Correspondence to: Dr H P Singh, Department of Pediatrics, Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Shyam Shah Medical College, APS University, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India. drhpsingh1@rediffmail.com.

Indian Pediatrics
|September 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Diarrhea and respiratory infections are common in severe acute malnutrition. Early treatment of these co-morbidities in children can reduce mortality and improve outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Nutritional Science
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children is a critical global health issue.
  • SAM significantly increases susceptibility to infections and other health complications.
  • Understanding co-morbidities in hospitalized SAM children is vital for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and types of co-morbidities among hospitalized children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
  • To identify common infectious diseases and nutritional deficiencies accompanying SAM in a pediatric inpatient setting.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 104 children with severe acute malnutrition was enrolled in the study.
  • Data collection focused on identifying co-existing conditions, including infections and nutritional deficiencies.

Main Results:

  • Diarrhea (54%) and acute respiratory tract infections (27.8%) were the most prevalent co-morbidities.
  • Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 22% of cases, particularly in infants aged 6-12 months (60.8%).
  • Other identified co-morbidities included vitamin B deficiency (14.4%), vitamin A deficiency (5.8%), malaria (3.8%), measles (3.8%), and HIV infection (2.9%). Malaria and HIV were not major co-morbid conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment of co-morbidities are essential for breaking the cycle of undernutrition and disease.
  • Effective management of co-existing conditions can significantly decrease mortality rates in severely malnourished children.
  • Improving outcomes for hospitalized children with SAM requires a comprehensive approach addressing both malnutrition and associated illnesses.
Abstract

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