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Published on: June 20, 2020
Neurodevelopmental Status of Children aged 6-30 months with Severe Acute Malnutrition
Deepak Dwivedi1, Surendra Singh2, Jyoti Singh2
1Department of Pediatrics, SS Medical College, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India. Correspondence to: Dr Deepak Dwivedi, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), D-2/8, Doctors Colony, Rewa 486 001, Madhya Pradesh, India. deepakdwi72@gmail.com.
Insights
Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) exhibit significant developmental delays, particularly in motor skills. Early intervention is crucial for improving neurodevelopmental outcomes in these vulnerable children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a critical global health issue affecting millions of children.
- Early childhood development is crucial for long-term health and well-being.
- Understanding the neurodevelopmental impact of SAM is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the developmental status of children aged 6-30 months diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
- To compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes of children with SAM against healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Participants included children with SAM from a therapeutic unit and healthy controls from a well-baby clinic.
- Neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Developmental Assessment Scale of Indian Infants (DASII), with a Developmental Quotient (DQ) ≤70 indicating delay.
Main Results:
- Children with SAM demonstrated significantly lower mean motor DQ (59.04) and mental DQ (62.1) compared to controls (P<0.0001).
- Developmental delays were more pronounced in skills typically acquired later in infancy.
- Motor DQ was more severely affected than mental DQ in the SAM group.
Conclusions:
- Children experiencing severe acute malnutrition exhibit significant neurodevelopmental delays.
- Motor development appears to be more adversely impacted by SAM than cognitive development.
- Findings underscore the need for early and comprehensive developmental support for children with SAM.
Objective:
This cross sectional study was done to assess the developmental status in children (6-30 mo old) with severe acute malutrition (SAM).
Methods:
Study subjects were enrolled from children in SAM therapeutic unit, and controls were selected from well-baby clinic of the institute. Neurodevelopment of both groups was assessed using the Developmental assessment scale of Indian infants (DASII). Developmental quotient (DQ) ≤70 was considered delayed.
Results:
Mean (SE) motor DQ 59.04 (0.74) and mental DQ 62.1 (0.57) was lower in SAM as compared to controls (both P<0.0001). Clusters of early age were normal but clusters with items of later infancy were delayed.
Conclusion:
Children with SAM show significant delay in development, and motor DQ is affected more than mental DQ.
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