[Recovery of the acute malnourished child in Costa Rica, by using caloric hyperalimentation].
This study was conducted at the National Children's Hospital, in Costa Rica. Fifteen malnourished children (means upon admission: age 7.5 months; 55.2% weight for age; 74.3 weight for height) were treated according to a new feeding scheme in which hypercaloric formulas were given to children from the seventh day onwards. The children achieved a mean weight gain of 8.7 g/kg/day after the first week of hospitalization. A strong correlation was found between caloric intake and weight gain (r = 0.78). The equation Y = -10.36 + 0.1X indicates and additional caloric requirement of 10 Kcal/kg/day for synthesis of tissue of 1 g/kg/day. Children achieved an average of 90% weight/height four weeks after initiation of treatment, advancing from grade III to grade II (weight deficit, Gómez classification) The application of this feeding scheme will reduce hospitalization cost, the risk of cross-infections, the rate of readmissions, and will favor a better adaptation of the child to his own environment.
D001835:Body Weight; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy*
Recuperación del desnutrido severo en Costa Rica, mediante alimentación hipercalórica.