Infections associated with severe protein-calorie malnutrition in hospitalized infants and children

Kenneth H. Brown, Robert H. Gilman, Abdul Gaffar, Sharif M. Alamgir, Janet L. Strife, Albert Z. Kapikian, R. Bradley Sack

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

One hundred Bangladeshi children admitted to hospital for treatment of severe protein-calorie malnutrition were systematically evaluated for the presence of infections. Ninety percent of children had some evidence of systemic infection at the time of admission and 75% had pneumonia, bacteruria, diarrhea in association with a known enteric pathogen, bacteremia, meningitis, or more than one of these major infections. Forty-nine percent of patients had pneumonia, including 14% of admissions with clinical evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Forty-three percent of admissions had diarrhea and 40% had evidence of enteric infections, most commonly shigellae or rotavirus. Bacteruria occurred in 30% of admissions, but bacteremia was identified in only 2% of patients initially. The prevalence of intestinal parasites increased with age, both among inpatients and comparison subjects with less severe grades of malnutrition. There did not appear to be important differences in the parasite loads or prevalences between the 2 groups. Twenty-one inpatients died; deaths were more common in younger children. The cause of death was most frequently related to infections. The identification and appropriate treatment of infections must be considered a major component of the rehabilitation of severely malnourished children.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)33-46
Number of pages14
JournalNutrition Research
Volume1
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1981

Keywords

  • Protein-calorie malnutrition
  • bacteruria
  • enteric infections
  • parasites
  • pneumonia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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