© 1982 by Oxford University Press
research-article |
Some Aspects of Malnutrition in Tehran
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Shahrazad Children's Hospital Kh. Zafar, Tehran, Iran
A prospective study is made of 139 malnourished children in Shahrazad Children's Hospital in Tehran. Malnutrition is not sex related in our studies, has a peak incidence in 3 month age in marasmus and 12 month in kwashiorkor. Marasmus was common during the warm season when diarrhea was common in Tehran, and carried higher mortality than kwashiorkor. The presence of hepatomegaly and/or purpura increased the risk of death. Infections were very common in both groups, particularly of the chest. Serum total protein and gamma globulins were lower and hypokalemia was marked in kwashiorkor. The weight was higher in children who were breast fed for a longer time, and lower in children who belonged to large families.