Biochemical and hematological profiles of children aged 6 - 60 months with protein energy malnutrition admitted to the Mol Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret Kenya.

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children aged five years and below. A derangement in both micro and macro nutrients have not been well documented in Eldoret. Broad objective: To describe the biochemical and hematological profiles of children under 5 years with Protein Energy Malnutrition at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret. Design: A cross sectional study Setting: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Pediatric wards Population Children aged 6 - 60 months of age admitted to the Pediatric wards that were found to have Protein Energy Malnutrition. Results A total of 350 children aged between 6- 60 months admitted to the pediatric wards were recruited for the study between November 2008 and May 2009. Their mean age was 20±14.5 months and 201 (57.1%) were male. A total of 146 (41.7%) had low weight for age, 101 (28.9%) had stunting and 53 (15.1 %) were wasted. The 146 children comprised of 108 (74.0%) with underweight, 10 (6.8%) kwashiorkor, 22 (15.1 %) marasmus and 6 (4. 1%) marasm ie-kwashiorkor. There were 76 (52.1 %) males. The mean age was 19.3 ± 12.7 months, mean weaning age was 3.3±1.6 months and 112 (76.7%) were up to date on immunization. Analysis of their serum proteins showed 60 (41.1%) with normal serum albumin, 47 (32.2%) mild hypoalbuminaemia, 27 (18.5%) moderate hypoalbuminemia and 12 (8.2%) severe hypoalbuminaemia. Hypoalbuminaemia was found to be significantly associated with low weight for age (P=<O.OOI) and stunting (P=0.017) but not wasting (P=0.567). Hemogram showed 43 (29.5%) without anemia while 66 (45.2%) mild, 30 (20.5%) moderate and 7 (4.8%) severe anemia. 120 (82.2%) had microcytosis while 26 (17.8%) were normocytic. Severe hypochromasia was found in 115 (78.2%) children. ROW was high in 142 (97.3%) children. Anemia and high RDW were found to be significantly associated with stunting (P=0.038) and low weight for age (P=0.044) respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of PEM is high among children aged 6- 60 months admitted to MTRH. The proportion of those with underweight, stunting and wasting is high. Anem ia with microcytosis and hypoalbum inern ia is common. Recommendation: More needs to be done to address Malnutrition and risk factors in chiIdren with more studies bei ng done to document the cause of 111 icrocytosis.