ABSTRACT
"To assess the frequency of serum electrolytes [Na[+], K[+] and Ca[+]] disturbances in malnourished children with diarrhea". Cross-sectional. Pediatrics Department Nishtar Hospital Multan. 01-07-2013 to 31-12-2013. Approval from the institutional ethical committee was taken. Malnourished children with diarrhea admitted to Pediatrics Department Nishtar Hospital Multan were registered. Children meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria enrolled in the study. In this study there were 90 patients which were found to be malnourished and having diarrhea. The average age of patients was 3.28 +/- 1.2 years and the average duration of diarrhea was 4.67 +/- 0.821 days. There were 58[64.4%] males and 32[35.5%] female patients. Hyponatremia was present in 28[31.1%] patients, Hypokalemia was present in 55[61.1%] while Hypocalcemia was present in 12[13.3%]. Serum electrolyte disturbances in malnourished children are obvious during diarrheal illness particularly in those patients with Grade III malnutrition and measurement of these Serum electrolytes is helpful for immediate therapy to avoid serious life threatening situations