TITLE:
Clinical and Evolutive Aspects of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children Aged 0 - 59 Months at Maroua Regional Hospital in Cameroon’s Far North Region
AUTHORS:
Palma Haoua Abouame, Selangai Hélène Kamo, Sime Tchouamo Arielle Annick, Fernando Kemta Lepka, Daniel Nemsi, Sadjo Salihou Aminou, Haman Soureya, Yolande Feudjo, Ulrich Dama, Félicitée Nguefack
KEYWORDS:
Severe Acute Malnutrition, Children, Far North Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.14 No.4,
June
19,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Severe acute malnutrition remains one of the most important causes of under-five mortality. In Cameroon, the northern regions have the highest prevalence, with 1.4% in the Far North in 2021. These children are managed at the Internal therapeutic and Nutrional Centre, one of which is located at Maroua Regional Hospital, the third level referral Hospital. We therefore proposed to carry out a study on the clinical and evolutive aspects of these children. Materials and Methods: it was a descriptive, cross-sectional study from January 2020 to December 2022, at the ITNC (CNTI) of Maroua Regional Hospital. The sample size was obtained from the Lorentz formula. Patient records were used for data collection. We excluded all incomplete records and patients with less than 24 hours of admission. Results: Out of the 873 patients we recruited, the prevalence of severe malnutrition was estimated at 18 %. The average age was 14 months, with a male predominance. The main reasons for consultation were fever (42%) and diarrhoea (35%). Marasmus was the predominant clinical form. The major medical complications were sepsis (32.9%) and malaria (16.8%). HIV prevalence was 2.5% and tuberculosis was 4.9%. Most patients had haemoglobin levels between 7 and 10g/dl. 79.3% were cured and 6.5% died. The main causes of death were sepsis and malaria. Conclusion: Severe acute malnutrition remains a major problem in the Far North region. Several joint actions are needed to break this cycle.