The impact of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis on nutritional status.
We investigated the immediate impact and long-term effects of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis on nutritional status and growth in 111 children. Mean weight change during 10 d of hospitalization was a loss of less than 1%. Follow-up median weight-for-height percentiles increased after admission (p less than 0.01). Percentile values were as follows: admission, 45th; 1 mo, 60th; 3 mo, 60th; and 6 mo, 68th. Forty-three percent of the cases were greater than 75th percentile of weight-for-height at 6 mo after disease. An additional follow-up assessment of weight-for-height indicated that 43% of a representative sample subset of 49 were still obese 1.17-5.5 y after disease. Significant differences in median concentrations of serum prealbumin were found between days 1 (128 mg/L) and 5 (199 mg/L, p less than 0.0001) and days 5 and 10 (214 mg/L, p less than 0.02). Median erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficients increased between days 1 (1.16) and 5 (1.20, p less than 0.01). The mean free erythrocyte protoporphyrin-heme ratio increased between days 5 (10.78 X 10(-6)) and 10 (14.22 X 10(-6), p less than 0.01). We conclude that there were transient adverse changes in nutritional status. Obesity appears to occur after disease.
Sherry
B
B
Division of Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98105.
Weber
A
A
Williams-Warren
J
J
Char
L F
LF
Smith
A L
AL
Kronmal
R A
RA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000886:Anthropometry; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002149:Energy Intake; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006197:Hair / Q000032:analysis; D006418:Heme / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
D011228:Prealbumin; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D006418:Heme; D005980:Glutathione Reductase