Abstract: Aim: To assess the clinical, hematological and biochemical profiles and socioeconomic status of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition in central Uttar Pradesh.
Materials and Methods: Study duration was 13 months from Dec 22 to Dec 23. All children between age of 6 months to 59 months admitted with weight for height<3SD, mid arm circumference <11.5 cm, bipedal edema with any of the co-morbidity like diarrhea, dysentery, lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, sepsis. Children with metabolic diseases, hereditary condition, chronic disorders like cardiac, renal, CNS, cerebral palsy were excluded from the study. Sample size of 121 was calculated. After obtaining parental consent demographic data was collected. Relevant history concerning etiology of SAM was taken. Anthropometric data was collected and all relevant investigations were done.
Results and conclusion: The majority of affected children were from rural areas and lower socioeconomic backgrounds, with a high incidence of incomplete immunization. . Faulty feeding practices, low calorie intake aggravates the malnutrition amongst children. Common clinical presentations included lower respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, and sepsis, with a notable prevalence of anemia with most children have moderate anaemia and microcytic hypochromic is most common. Some of these children had biochemical abnormalities like hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycaemia.