Effects of infections on severely malnourished children in Kilifi-Mombasa and Dar es Salaam: a comparative study.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the e ects of infections on severely malnourished children. Study design: Descriptive, cross-sectional hospital based study. Results: There is little di erence in the prevalence of severe malnutrition between the two hospitals. 55% of all malnourished children were boys. Nonoedematous Protein Energy Malnutrition was more prevalent at Muhimbili National Hospital than at Kili District Hospital. More than 75% of all severe Protein Energy Malnutrition patients were below two years of age, 36% of all severe Protein Energy Malnutrition patients admitted also had malaria, 45% of all admitted patients with severe Protein Energy Malnutrition at Kili District Hospital also had diarrhoea. More than 25% of severely malnourished patients died, oedematous type having a higher case fatality rate than non-oedematous one. 86% of the patients who died at MNH had other co-morbidities. Septicaemic malnourished children succumbed more deaths than other co infections. Conlusion: Infections cause most deaths and complicate the management of severe malnutrition. Severe malnutrition is still a big problem among these countries.