Serum electrolytes changes in malnourished children with diarrhea

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of electrolyte disturbances in malnourished children with and without diarrhea and whether these findings have therapeutic value or not. It is a descriptive study conducted at pediatric Unit-II LUH Hyderabad, from1st August to 31st September 2004. One hundred children of protein-calorie-malnutrition between 6 months to 5 year of age of either sex who were admitted due to diarrhoea, failure to thrive, acute respiratory infection, malaria, anemia, cardiac failure and feeding problems were included in the study. On the basis of history, physical examination and anthropometrics measurement they were divided into Group A patients [n=64] who were malnourished but had diarrhoea and Group B patients [n=36] who were also malnourished and had no diarrhoea. Serum electrolytes were done in patients of both groups and the results were analyzed statistically. Analysis of serum electrolyte in both groups revealed that hypokalemia, hyponatremia and low serum bicarbonate were seen more frequently in patients of group A as compared to group B. In group A hypokalemia was seen in 40 patients[62.5%] while it was observed in 8 patients[22.22%] in group B [p<0.001], hyponatremia was seen in 17 patients [26.56%] in group A and in 5 patients [13.88%] in group B [p<0.001]. In group A 41 patients [64%] had low serum bicarbonate while in group B only 15 patients [41.66%] had low serum bicarbonate value [p<0.001] Electrolyte changes were commonly seen in grade II and III malnourished patients particularly who presented with diarrhoeal episode of variable duration. If these changes are diagnosed in time and treated appropriately the morbidity and mortality could be decreased