THE FREQUENCY OF HYPONATREMIA AND HYPOKALEMIA IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN WITH ACUTE DIARRHEA

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is a major global health problem, with the major burden being in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Afric. The study was undertaken to determine the frequency of hyponatremia an hypokalemia in malnourished children with acute diarrhea.

Methods: Hospital based prospective study was conducted on 100 children between the age group of 6months to 5years presenting with acute diarrhea was include in the study.

Results: Hyponatremia was observed in total 15 (15.00%) cases of diarrhea. Regarding the grade of malnutrition, hyponatremia was observed in only 4.44% in grade 1, 8.69% in grade, 41.67% in grade 3 and 60.00% in grade 4 malnutrition respectively.  Hypokalemia was noticed in 10.00% cases (10 out of 100) with acute diarrhea. The frequency of hypokalemia was 4.44% in grade 1, 8.69% in grade 2, 25.00% in grade 3 and 40.00% in grade 4 malnutrition respectively.

Conclusion: Electrolyte disturbances are often subclinical in malnourished children, but become obvious during the episode of acute diarrhoeal disease. Hence serum electrolytes of every malnourished child with acute diarrhoea should be estimated in order to do immediate correction and avoid serious life-threatening outcome.

Keywords: IAP, Malnutrition, Diarrhoea