33. Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Children Aged 6 to 59 Months Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital with Severe Acute Malnutrition
Abdul Hameed Radhan, Ghulam Shabir Laghari, Saeed Ahmed Shaikh, Saroop Chand, Mushtaque Ali Shah and Muhammad Touseef
ABSTRACT
Objective: The present study was conducted with the objective of determining the prevalence of SAM and the clinical profile associated with SAM like risk factors, co-morbid conditions, type of SAM and to find out the outcome of SAM after hospitalization and treatment.
Study Design: Hospital based prospective observational study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the department of Pediatrics, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan from July 2019 to June 2020.
Materials and Methods: 50 SAM children of aged 6 months to 59 months were included into the study after meeting the inclusion criteria. Historical, clinical and laboratory data were recorded in a predesigned proforma. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical method.
Results: The prevalence of severe acute malnutrition is 2.7%.The mean age of study population is 21.86 ± 14.85 months.68%were male and 32% were female out of the 50 SAM children. No edematous SAM were more (56%) than the edematous SAM (44%).Highest incidence of SAM were in the age group of 6 -24 months (68%).Almost all the cases (96%) belonged to low SES.78% mothers were either illiterate or primary school educated. EBF up to 6 months of age were only in 16% of cases. Major clinical presentation was diarrhea (70%), fever (68%), anorexia (66%), ARI (56%), vomiting (38%), eye problems (38%).Comorbid conditions associated with SAM were anemia (86%), pneumonia (42%), worm infestation (40%) followed by UTI (38%) & tuberculosis (16%). Recovery rate is 54%. Mean hospital stay is 10.28± 5.84 days. 2 children (4%) died during hospital stay.
Conclusion: Severe acute malnutrition is the most severe life threatening form of malnutrition which requires urgent attention. Timely identification and intervention of various risk factors, clinical and comorbid condition is likely to break the vicious cycle of under nutrition, infection and SAM and thereby improve outcome.
Key Words: Severe acute malnutrition, female literacy, socio-economic status, wasting
Citation of article: Radhan AH, Laghari GS, Shaikh SA, Chand S, Shah MA, Touseef M. Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Children Aged 6 to 59 Months Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital with Severe Acute Malnutrition. Med Forum 2021;32(6):132-136.