STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING WEIGHT GAIN IN SAM CHILDREN IN NRC UNIT, GOVERNMENT GENERAL HOSPITAL, ANANTHAPURAMU, ANDHRA PRADESH

Dr. S.A. Sardar Sulthana; Dr. A.V. Rama Kishore; Dr. D. Malleswari

Volume : VII, Issue : I, January - 2018

STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING WEIGHT GAIN IN SAM CHILDREN IN NRC UNIT, GOVERNMENT GENERAL HOSPITAL, ANANTHAPURAMU, ANDHRA PRADESH

Dr. S. A. Sardar Sulthana, Dr. A. V. Rama Kishore, Dr. D. Malleswari

Abstract :

Objectives: Clinical study of SAM children admitted in NRC unit in Government General Hospital, Ananthapuramu and analysing the factors influencing the weight gain in those children. This study was planned to understand catch up growth in severe acute malnourished patients admitted to rehabilitation ward for providing nutrition.

These malnourished children with PEM have recurrent episodes of acute infections or chronic insidious infections which may go undetected. In this study, we tried to determine influence of these risk factors other than diet which are related to child and mother which could lead to SAM in children under the age of five.

Methods: Hospital based prospective clinical study.

Study included 165 children admitted in NRC unit during six months period (April 2017 to September 2017). These children categorised as target weight achieved and not achieved and compared with various variables like age, duration of hospital stay, infections and literacy of mother etc.

Results: Out of 165 patients studied 99(60%) patients mothers are literates and 66 (40%) patients mothers are illiterates. In total cases 49 (29.70%) children are less than 1 year of age and 116 (70.30%) are more than 1 year of age. Target weight gain in less than 1 year of age is statistically significant with p value of 0.004. There is no gender inequality in admitted children. 82(49.70%) are male and 83(50.30%) are female children. Out of 165 children target weight achieved are 97(58.79%) and not achieved are 68(41.12%). When it is compared with duration of hospital stay 52.63% achieved target weight gain in less than 14 days and 62.04% achieved in more than 14 days of duration which is not statistically significant with p value of 0.24. When clinicalcondition of admitted patients studied nearly 1/3^rd of patients constitutes gastroenteritis, 1/3^rd of patients constitutes anemia (27.27% each), 26.67% are admitted with lower respiratory infections, 7.8% of cases are admitted for the reason of not gaining weight. Remaining patients are admitted with other clinical conditions like fever, sepsis etc. When cultures are sent for different clinical conditions, Gram negative isolates are 10.91%, out of which E. coli is common. 1.82% of cases are Gram positive.

Conclusion: When various factors are analysed influencing weight gain, age factor and gender of child is going to influence the target weight gain in NRC units with statistically significant value. The other clinical conditions are not going to influence target weight gain significantly provided appropriate treatment is given in appropriate time.