Biochemical And Haematological Parameters Among Malnourished Sudanese Children Under Five Years

Abstract

60 children were admitted to Khartoum and Omdurman Children’s Emergency Hospitals. Measurement biochemical and haematological parameters were determined in (20) control, children suffering from diseases except protein energy malnutrition under five years during the period April-August 2001. Measurements were determined in (23) with marasmus, (5) with Kwashiorkor, (12) with marasmic Kwashiorkor syndrome and 20 control. On admission, Haemoglobin (Hb%), iron (Fe), total protein, albumin, body weight, protein elctorophoresis, Erythrocyte Sedimnentation Rate (ESR), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red Blood Cell Counts (RBCs), Total White Blood Cell Counts (TWBCs) and Mean Cell Volume (MCV) serum were measured also age, mother’s education and father’s income were known in controls and children suffering from Kwashiorkor, Marasmus and marasmic Kwashiorkor. Measurements obtained in this study revealed that Hb%, Fe, Tp, Albumin, Hbg %, PCV, RBCs, MCHC, MCH and body weight were significantly lower than the levels of the control children in the three studied groups of protein energy malnutrition (PEM). There is evidence that malnourished children are at greater risk for mal- nutritional and related health problems than the healthy children (control). All malnourished children were under weight compared with the well-nourished children. Socially, it was found that poverty, illiteracy and unhygienic conditions contributed to the multi-factorial disease of malnutrition.