Acute severe malnutrition treatment outcomes in children ages 6–59 months admitted to Singa Hospital, Sudan

Background Acute malnutrition threatens the lives of 50.5 million children <5 y of age. Consequences of malnutrition include death, among other short-term sequelae. This study was conducted from April to October 2018 to determine the outcomes of children 6–59 months of age with acute severe malnutrition admitted to Singa Hospital in central Sudan. Methods Clinical information for children with a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) <115 mm were collected. We measured children's weight and height and calculated weight-for-height z-scores. Treatment was offered according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Outcomes were recorded as recovered, discharged against medical advice or died. Results This study included 376 malnourished children. The median age was 18 months (interquartile range [IQR] 12−24). The male:female ratio was 1:1. Among children with weight-for-height Z-scores of −4 and −3, 103 (27.3%) had oedematous malnutrition. There were 131 (34.8%) children with malaria parasites, 33 (8.7%) with pyuria and 24 (6.3%) with intestinal parasites. The recovery rate was 89.1%. The case fatality rate was 3.7%. Mortality was significantly increased with diarrhoea and dermatoses. There were no significant differences in the median of age (17.5 months [IQR 6−24] vs 18 [6−24], p = 0.595), MUAC (110 mm [IQR 104–111] vs 110 [100–111], p = 0.741) or sex (p = 0.991) between children who died and those who recovered. Conclusions The case fatality rate was 3.7% and it was associated with diarrhoea and dermatoses.

PATTERN OF CO-MORBIDITIES IN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION ADMITTED IN MTC AT M.G. HOSPITAL BHILWARA, RAJASTHAN

Background: A round the globe nearly 20 million children below the age of five, having Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and contributing to one million deaths every year in this age group. To study the pattern of co-morbidities in children having Severe Acute Malnutrition in MTC attached to a teaching hospital. Methods: This prospective study was carried out in the MTC attached to Department of Pediatrics, M.G. Hospital Bhilwara, Rajasthan. All children between One to sixty months of age with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted in the Malnutrition Treatment Centre were included. WHO criteria were followed for diagnosis and need for admissions in children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Results: Out of 200 children having SAM 55.00% children were having one co-morbidity, 27.00% were having two co-morbidity and 10.00% were having more than two co-morbidty. Conclusions: It is imperative to suspect and anticipate co-morbid condition in these children. High index of suspicion for these co-morbidities is the key to reduce mortality and better outcome in children having acute severe malnutrition. Keywords: sever acute malnutrition (SAM), malnutrition treatment corner (MTC), co-morbidity