Acute diarrheal disease associated with malnutrition in children under five

Abstract

A descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study of malnutrition in children under 5 years of age associated with acute diarrheal diseases (EDA) was carried out, with the objective of identifying the epidemiological-therapeutic aspects and possible causes for its presentation in the Hospital " San Martin de Porres "Huanuni, from February 2006 to October 2007. The universe is constituted by 1455 malnourished who attend in the pediatric external consultation and the integral nutritional unit. Variables are studied: age of presentation, sex, degree of malnutrition, incidence of EDA, clinical forms and therapeutic regimens. Absolute numbers and percentages are used as measures in the univariate analysis. The prevalence of malnutrition in children under 2 years of age at 6 months (55.7%) was found to be the most relevant cause, and dehydration (10.7%) was the most frequent complication in men (60.8%). Watery diarrhea. Conclusions and recommendations are issued.