Severe malnutrition in child, common manifestation in infants and small child

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition is a chronic nutrition disorder caused by insufficient energy and protein intake. Purpose: Identify their clinical and paraclinical manifestations associated with the infant and young child with severe malnutrition. The term protein-caloric malnutrition adopted by the WHO defines the state of increasing stagnation of the infant and young child below the 25th percentile and the duration of more than 2 months. The incidence of malnutrition in children aged 0-4 years at national level is reported for the years 2017-2019 decreasing with values 6.47-6.10 / 00. Materials and methods: The prospective study involved 30 children aged between 1 to 40 months admitted to the Institute of Mother and Child, Clinic „Em.Coțaga ” Pediatric department, metabolic diseases and malnutrition. Results: This study demonstrate that 11 infants from 19 resive artificial feeding with formula : NAN, Hipp, Nestogen, Similac at al. Common manifestation in malnutrition was pneumonia, diarrhea, dehydration, gastro-esophageal reflux,malabsorption, celiac disease. The 11 children agged 12 to 40 months related serious central nervous problems – delay of neuro-motor and verbal development, microcephaly, hydrocephaly, epilepsy, cerebral palsy. Laboratory data: metabolic acidosis, iron deficiency anemia, elevate CRP and liver enzimes. Conclusions: The most common manifestation in severe malnutrition in infants are results of errors in early transfer of infants to an artificial or mixt feeding, due to afection of digestive and respiratory system.In children aged 12 to 40 months more common are severe neurological disorders.