Abstract

WEISSTAUB, Gerardo; SORIA, Richard  and  ARAYA, Magdalena. Severe Malnutrition in a Pediatrics Hospital. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2006, vol.45, n.2, pp.90-94. ISSN 1024-0675.

Stunting is considered the main form of malnutrition in infantile population in Latin America; however, clinical studies show that edematous malnutrition is still present and that this is a relevant factor influencing mortality rate of hospitalized children. Objective: to measure the prevalence and characteristics of malnutrition of children admitted with severe malnutrition in Cochabamba. Methods: a longitudinal, retrospective, observational study assessed anthropometry, clinical history, hydration, antibiotics, duration of admission and mortality. Results: 3.6% of admissions were due to severe malnutrition (65 Kwashiorkor, 18 mixed malnutrition, 9 marasmatic). Intravenous fluids were the main hydration route in half of patients and 85% received antibiotics. Depending on the anthropometric indicator used up to 21% of kwashiorkors would remain undetected because their indicators were above the cut off. Group and general hospital mortality were 17.3% and 5.8%, respectively. Edematous malnutrition was detected in 90% of patients. Mortality among severely dehydrated patients reached 43%. Conclusion: edematous malnutrition was unexpectedly high. The nutritional situation in the region should be reassessed.

Keywords : malnutrition; kwashiokor; edematous malnutrition; mortality; Bolivia.

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