The Pattern of Infection in Children with Severe Protein Energy Malnutrition.

Abstract

Summary: Seventy three severely malnourished children admitted to the Wes ley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, between January 1985 and December 1986 were studied prospectively for infections. Positive blood cultures were obtained in 13 (17.8%). Urinary tract infection due to coliforms was present in 8 (11%) cases and chest radiographic pneumonic changes in 30 (41.1%) chil dren, half of whom were not clinically diagnosed as having pneumonia. Four (5.5%) patients had tuberculosis; all the 40 mantoux tests done were how ever, negative. Gastroenteritis and oral thrus were present in 18 (24.7%) and ten (13.7%) patients respectively, while parastic infestations were di agnosed from stool examination in 4 cases. Ear and throat infections were found in 17 (23.3%) whilst skin and superficial infections were present in 28 (38.4%) children. There were 16 (21.9%) deaths in all. A greater but non-significant percentage of bacteraemic patients (38.5%) deaths in all. A non-significant percentage of bacteraemic patients (38.5%) than of non-bacte raemic patients (18.3%), died.