• I Marete, J Simba, P Gisore, C Tenge, D Bosire, A Mwangi, and F Esamai.
• Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, Eldoret.
• East Afr Med J. 2013 Jul 1; 90 (7): 222-5.

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of malnutrition among children admitted with acute diarrhoea disease at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and to establish the effect of malnutrition on duration of hospital stay.DesignProspective observational study.SettingPaediatric wards of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya.SubjectsA total of 191 children aged 6 and 59 months admitted with acute diarrhoea disease, without chronic co-morbidities or visible severe malnutrition, were systematically enrolled into the study between November 2011 and March 2012.Outcome MeasuresNutritional status based on WHO WHZ scores taken at admission and duration of hospital stay.ResultsThe mean age was 13.2 months with a male to female sex ratio of 1.16:1. Of all the children seen with acute diarrhoeal diseases, 43.9% had acute malnutrition (<-2 WHZ score), with 12% being severely malnourished (<-3 Z score). Average duration of hospital stay was 3.36 (SD=1.54) days. Among those with malnutrition the average duration of stay was 3.39 (SD=1.48) days while for those without malnutrition it was 3.21(SD=1.20) days, which was not statistically different. No death was reported. WHO weight for Height Z scores picked 12% of severe form of malnutrition missed out by Welcome Trust classification (weight for age).ConclusionRoutine anthrometry including weight for height identifies more children with malnutrition in acute diarrhoeal diseases. Presence of malnutrition did not affect duration of hospital stay.

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