Arbab Ali Junejo, Bahawaluddin Jamro, Ghulam Rasool Bouk, Abdul Hamid Shaikh, Khurshid Ahmad Abasi.
Treatment outcome of severe acute malnutrition in children at nutrition stablization center Sukkur.
Pak Paed J Jan ;38(1):14-8.

Background: Worldwide about 25% of children below 5 years are stunted; this is more common in Sub-Saharan, where 38% of children are stunted. About 15% of children are underweight; this is also more prevalent in South Asia, where 16% of children are under weight. In Pakistan about 43.6% children are stunted and about 15% of children are wasted. Management of children by using W.H.O. guidelines can reduce mortality in 55% of children in comparison to conventional treatment. This study was carried out to see treatment outcome of severely malnourished children treated with W.H.O protocol. Objective: To determine the treatment outcome of children with severe acute malnutrition treated with World Health Organization(WHO) Protocol for management of severe acute malnutrition at nutrition stabilization centerSukkur. Place and Duration: This study was carried out at Nutrition Stabilization Center of Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Hospital, Sukkur from February 2011 to January 2012. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive hospital based study carried out at nutrition stabilization Center Sukkur. Patients suffering from severe malnutrition between the age of 6-60 months were included, patients below 6 months and above 60 months were excluded from study. The diagnosis of severe malnutrition was based on WHO/IMCI criteria for malnutrition: weight-for height Z score (WHZs) of <-3 or <70% of the reference medium; clinical criteria (presence of visible severe wasting or bipedal edema); mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) of <11 cm in children between 6-60 months. Data was collected from files and the variables included age, sex, weight, height, severity of malnutrition, type of malnutrition and treatment outcome .Data was analyzed by SPSS version 16 and results were expressed in number and percentages. Results: Total of 270 patients were admitted. Majority 186 (68.88%) were between the age of 13 to 59 months; there was no sex difference. Majority of patients 147 (54.44%) had very severe acute malnutrition (-4SD). Non-edematous type of malnutrition was the commonest type of malnutrition seen in 254 (94.08%). Majority of patients 224 (82.92%) improved and were discharged, 23 (8.55%) left against medical advice and 23 (8.55%) expired. Conclusion: With implementation of W.H.O protocol for management of sever acute malnutrition, majority of children were managed successfully.

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