MALNUTRITION IS PREVALENT AMONG CHILDREN (2 MONTHS - 5 YEARS) SUFFERING FROM ACUTE RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (ARI)

  • DR. ABDUR REHMAN KHOKHAR DG Khan Medical College, Dera Ghazi Khan
  • DR. M. SHAHID FARUQI Postgraduate Medical Institute, Ameer ud Din Medical College, Lahore
  • DR. ABDUL SATTAR Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College, Sialkot
  • DR. Q. A. REHMAN PAEC Science College, DG Khan
  • DR. KHAWAR IQBAL CPMC, Lahore
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51642/ppmj.v24i2.234
Keywords: Malnutrition, Prevalent, Acute Respiratory Tract Infection

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is a worldwide problem and leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity. Under nutrition in all its forms is still common is south East Asia.

Objective: To determine prevalence of malnutrition among children suffering from ARI and to find association between them.

Patients and Methods: This study was carried out at DHQ Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan from December 2008 to March 2009. Study population included children from OPD and indoor of Pediatric Department. It was a descriptive cross sectional study. Total of 350 ARI patients of age 2 months-5 years, 172 girls and 178 boys were enrolled. Responses to structured questionnaires were collected from all patients.

Results: Prevalence of malnutrition in age group 2 months-l year was 19%. There is increased incidence of malnutrition with increase of age. At 2 years age protein caloric malnutrition PCM was 12.5% among boys and 14% among girls. At age group 3, 4, 5, PCM was 13%, 20%, 27% respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of mal-nutrition was high at age group 1 year than 2 - 8 months, 2- 4 years while the PCM was observed as high as 25% at age group 5 years. ARI has significant relation with protein caloric Malnutrition.

Published
2013-09-01
Issue
Vol 24 No 2 (2013): Postgraduate Medical Journal
Section
Article