Head Circumference Measurements Based on Nutritional Status of Hospitalized Children
Aida H Al-Sadeeq*
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Aden, Yemen
*Corresponding Author: Aida H Al-Sadeeq, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Aden, Yemen.
Published: January 24, 2024
DOI: 10.55162/MCMI.03.048
Abstract
Background: Length/height and head cercumference (HC) measurement and assessment can provide valuble information on chronic nutritional status and brain growth. Yet, in our sitting children were only assessed for acute malnutrtion.
Objective: To assess the frequency of stunting and to assess the HC size in relation to nutritional status in children 6 - 60 months suffering from severe acute malnutrition and acute diarrhea.
Methods: Hospital based prospective study, carried out among the 06-60 month old children admitted in a single unit including diarrheal diseases (DD) and therapeutic feeding center (TFC) of Al-Sadaka General Teaching Hospital (Al-SGTH)/ Aden during July 2021 - June 2022.
Results: A total of 412 children (214 boys and 198 girls) in the age group of 06 - 60 months were admitted during the study period. Severe wasting, severe stunting and acute diarrhea were found among 85.4%, 34.4% and 14.6%, respectively. Mean HC was significantly low among wasted compared to no wasted children in the age group between 6-24 months. Stunted children had significantly low mean HC in all age groups. Thirty three percent of the severely wasted children were also severely stunted. Less than -3SD HCA Z-score was found among 38.6% out of 85.4% severely wasted and 32% out of 34.4% severely stunted children.
Conclusions: The present study provides evidence that undernutrition associated with retarded linear growth, and both wasting and stunting adversely affects the developing brain as evidenced by reduced head size with increasing severity of undernutrition.
Keywords: Head circumference; Severe wasting; Stunting; Hospitalized children
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