Abstract

Objective : To Study the serum albumin levels in edematous severe acute malnutrition children aged 6months to 5 years. Methods: An observational hospital based prospective study was conducted at Malnutrition Treatment Center (MTC), Bal Chikitsalya, RNT Medical College, Udaipur (Raj.) India from July 2015 to Dec 2015. We enrolled total 50 children aged 6 Months to 5 Years having nutritional edema with medical complications. Acute complications were treated and nutritional rehabilitation was done by WHO protocols. Results: A total of 50 children were studied. Mean age of children was 16.5411.05 months, 52.0% were males and 48.0% were females. Majority of children had moderate edema(52.0%) followed by 34.0%of severe edema whereas only 14.0% of SAM children had mild edema. Mean serum albumin levels were 2.7 50.74 gm/dl. Serum albumin levels were, In mild grade edema(1+), 3.270.60 gm/dl, in moderate grade edema(+2) 2.85 0.74gm/dl and in severe grade edema(3+) 2.38 0.63 gm/dl.. Serum albumin levels were statistically significantly associated with grade of edema (p value=0.01). Conclusion: This study concluded that edematous severe acute malnutrition children had hypoalbuminemia and this hypoalbuminemia statistically significant with grade of edema.