Nutritional status in children hospitalized in minimum care wards. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad. Córdoba
Gomila AA, De Grandis ES, Visconti GB, Montero SB, Bertero MI, Marietti G, Crespo D, Pico AN, Bianchi M, Gomila H A.
The prevalences of malnutrition and anaemia are high among the children admitted to Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad. Córdoba
The objective of the present study was to describe the nutritional status in children admitted in minimum care wards in a tertiary care children’s hospital. This study involved Children under 6 years (1-71.6 months) admitted in minimum care wards in Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad, between 15th October 2003 and 15th January 2004, with acute or potentially reversible and chronic medical or surgical conditions.
The prevalence of malnutrition taking into account P/E values < percentile 3 was 25.1% and modified Waterlow criteria: 50.2%. Among the malnourished children, 49.6% of them had acute evolution and 35.1% chronic evolution; 4.5% presented severe malnutrition (60% had a chronic illness); 29 patients (9.1%) were overweight or obese. The haemoglobin values were low in 47.5% and the albumin level in 3.1% of the patients.
The prevalences of malnutrition and anaemia are high among the children admitted to the hospital; the prevalences of overweight and obesity were low in the patients evaluated. A careful evaluation and nutritional care is required in hospitalized children.
Download full article